Aeronautics, Space and Defence

May 2007

M'bishi Materials To Quadruple Output Of Forged Aircraft Parts
Mitsubishi Materials Corp. plans to quadruple output capacity for forged aircraft engine cases by fiscal 2009 in response to growing aircraft production worldwide. The firm will invest 3 billion yen over three years in its plant in Saitama Prefecture in order to boost output of engine cases made with heat-resistant alloys. As part of the expansion, a second ring mill -- a machine that forms cylindrical engine cases by pressing the heat-resistant alloy into a mold -- will be installed. The new ring mill will be able to apply greater pressures than the existing ring mill, enabling larger cases to be formed and thereby greatly increasing production efficiency. The new mill is expected to be in service during fiscal 2009 and will raise production volume fourfold from the current 4,500 units a year. Mitsubishi Materials projects that aircraft demand will grow at an annual rate of 4.6% to 5.6% for the next 20 years, with much of this demand coming from Asia. It is targeting 12 billion yen in sales of forged aircraft parts by fiscal 2012, more than double the 5.5 billion yen reported for fiscal 2006. It is also looking to boost its share of the global market to 10% from the current 3%. (The Nikkei Business Daily, May 24, 2007)

Australia To Join Japan, U.S. In Developing Missile Defense
Japan and the U.S. plan to include Australia in joint research on a missile defense system, with trilateral cooperation slated to begin as early as within the year, The Nikkei learned Monday. The countries' foreign and defense ministry officials reached a basic agreement on the joint research framework at a meeting last month, grounded in the existing understanding between Japan and the U.S. on such issues as data sharing and response mechanisms. "Japan and the U.S. will work together with Australia to strengthen security in the Asia-Pacific region," says a senior official at the Defense Ministry, referring to cooperation in the defense system's operation and capabilities, as well as related policies. While Australia has yet to decide whether to implement the system, it will share missile launch data and continue operational cooperation with an eye on eventually adopting the defense program. The system envisions a missile attack by North Korea or a Chinese ballistic missile reaching Guam or Australia. Standard Missile 3 (SM3) interceptors on Aegis-equipped destroyers would first be launched at missiles still outside the earth's atmosphere, with ground-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC3) interceptors used against any remaining inbound missiles. The Japanese government plans to deploy PAC3 launchers by the beginning of the next decade, and four Aegis vessels will be retrofitted with SM3 capabilities on an accelerated timetable. The U.S. military plans to augment its fleet of SM3-equipped Aegis ships as well. (The Nihon Keizai Shimbun, May 22, 2007)