Rolls-Royce builds on Areo Engine partnerships with Japan

Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use in the air, on land, and at sea, today highlighted the importance its relationship with the Japanese aerospace industry.

Neil Takei, Vice-President Business Development – Japan, speaking at the UK-Japan Aerospace Forum in Tokyo today, said that Rolls-Royce had developed into a significant contributor to the aerospace industry in Japan by working with its major industrial groups.

“We have built a strong relationship with the Japanese ‘Heavies’ on the RB211 and Trent aero engines since 1988 and we will continue to collaborate with Japanese partners in the future,” he said.

KHI, MHI, IHI and Marubeni are involved as risk and revenue sharing partners or programme associates on six Rolls-Royce large turbofan engines. Between them, the companies work on the RB211 for the Boing 747, the Trent 700 for the Airbus A330, Trent 800 for the Boeing 777, Trent 500 for the A340, Trent 900 for the A380 and the Trent 1000, which will enter service for the first time next year with the Boeing 787 Dreamliners of ANA.

Mr Takei said that Japanese companies were now involved in the production of a wide range of engine components.

“Rolls-Royce has developed its relationship with Japanese parters from supplying individual components to major sub-asssemblies and whole engine integration,” he said.

Rolls-Royce is also a partner with JAEC in the International Aero Engines V2500 engine which powers the Airbus A320 family. The collobaration, which began in 1983, built on the RJ500 demonstrator programme between Rolls-Royce and Japan in the 1970s.

One of the key aspects of the Rolls-Royce relationship with Japanese industry is that it shares technology and capability, so that the companies can work together through the whole life of an engine programme, said Mr Takei.