Japan's MHI to make parts for A350 engines

By Leithen Francis

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), which is already involved in the Rolls-Royce (R-R) Trent 1000 engine programme for the Boeing 787, will also be making parts for the R-R Trent XWB engine, which will power Airbus A350s.

MHI says in a statement it "has decided to participate in development of the Rollls-Royce Trent XWB aero-engine for the Airbus A350XWB".

It says it will be a risk and revenue sharing partner in the programme and will be responsible for manufacturing components for the engine's combustion system and manufacturing low-pressure turbine blades.

MHI is already involved in the Trent 1000 programme, the engine that powers the 787,

"For MHI, participation in the Trent XWB programme is an ideal opportunity to strengthen its international competitiveness in core technology for aero engines by joining the engine's development from the initial design stage," it says.

"Involvement in the programme is also very significant" because the A350 and 787 "will satisfy most needs of the large-size commercial aero-engine market segment", it adds.

© Reed Business Information 2009