The Mitsubishi MRJ might have attracted its most powerful project partner yet, as Japan’s Toyota Motor Company contemplates a major investment in the two-aircraft regional jet series. According to Japan’s Asahi newspaper, Toyota plans to invest 10 billion yen ($96.8 billion) in the MRJ, scheduled for industrial launch within weeks. Under the partnership, Mitsubishi will retain a 60-percent stake in the company.
Since choosing Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan as the MRJ’s powerplant, MHI has named five more subsystems suppliers to the 70- to 90-seat jet project, including Parker Aerospace (hydraulics), Hamilton Sundstrand (electrical power system, air management system, auxiliary power unit, inert gas system, high lift actuation system, and fire and overheat protection system), Rockwell Collins (flight control systems), Nabtesco (flight control system) and Sumitomo Precision Products (landing gear).