Boeing and Japanese manufacturers have firmed up details for sharing work on Boeing’s new airplane, the 777X.
The contract, which was announced Thursday, includes work on fuselage sections; center wing sections; pressure bulkhead; main landing gear wells; passenger, cargo and main landing gear doors; wing components and wing-body fairings, according to a statement from Boeing.
It followed an announcement last year that Boeing had signed a tentative agreement with Japan Aircraft Industries (JAI) and Japan Aircraft Development Corporation (JADC) to provide about 21 percent of the major airplane structure components for the 777X.
JAI is a collaboration between several Japanese suppliers — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), ShinMaywa Industries (SMIC) and NIPPI Corporation (NIPPI). JADC is a non-profit, advocacy group representing the aerospace industry.
Boeing has worked with Japanese aerospace companies since the 1970s, beginning with the 747SP. They have also contributed to the Next-Generation 737, 737 MAX, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787 Dreamliner and 777X programs.
“The JAI companies are investing in new facilities and introducing robotic and other automated systems to ensure they deliver high-quality products on time every time. This is a measure of their commitment to the success of the 777X,” said Shigeru Murayama, JADC Chairman and president of KHI, in a news release from Boeing.
The 777X program currently has 306 firm orders from six customers. Production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020.
Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.
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