Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a Japanese industrial group with an aerospace business covering military aircraft, helicopters, commercial aircraft structures and engines. Its aircraft activities began within a shipbuilding enterprise in 1918. The later independent Kawasaki Aircraft company returned to a combined heavy-industries group through the three-company merger of 1969.[1]
Development of the aircraft business
Kawasaki established its aircraft department at the Hyogo works and opened a factory at Kakamigahara in 1922, the origin of its Gifu aircraft facilities. Kawasaki Aircraft became a separate company in 1937. Post-war programmes included the P-2J maritime patrol aircraft, developed from the Lockheed Neptune with turboprop propulsion and extensive airframe changes. The C-1 transport, which first flew in 1970, extended the company's experience into jet-powered military airlift. The 1969 merger reunited aircraft, rolling-stock and heavy-industrial operations within Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[1]
Military aircraft and rotorcraft
Kawasaki is prime contractor for the Japanese Ministry of Defense's P-1 maritime patrol aircraft and C-2 transport. Its training aircraft work includes the T-4, used by the Blue Impulse aerobatic team. Helicopter activities encompass the BK117, OH-1 observation helicopter and licensed production programmes. These include the CH-47 transport family and the MCH-101 and CH-101, serving maritime and Antarctic support requirements. The mix combines aircraft developed for Japanese requirements with international cooperation and licensed manufacture.[2]
Commercial partnerships
In commercial aviation, Kawasaki manufactures structures for Boeing's 767, 777 and 787 programmes and participates in the 777X. It also worked with Embraer on the development and production of the 170/175 and 190/195 regional aircraft families. These partnerships give Kawasaki a role within international airliner supply chains, with responsibilities for substantial aircraft sections rather than complete aircraft marketed under its own name. The Embraer work included main-wing development, design, series manufacture and product support, extending the company's experience across the full life of a major airframe structure.[2][1]