Defence

DSEI Japan: AERALIS partners with ShinMaywa

Posted 15 March 2023

British military fast-jet company AERALIS signed a partnership with Japanese aircraft manufacturers, ShinMaywa at DSEI Japan, paving the way for the two companies to work on establishing best practice in the implementation of Digital Engineering processes for aircraft design and manufacturing.

Above: (left to right) Tristan Crawford, CEO, AERALIS and Katsuo Tanaka, President Aircraft Division at ShinMaywa
Courtesy AERALIS

Best known for the US-2 Flying Boat produced for Japan’s Maritime Self Defence Force, ShinMaywa has extensive aerostructures experience and is looking at the potential of introducing full Digital Engineering processes.

Initial work is scheduled to start this month (March 2023), and will seek to establish how Digital Engineering can enhance ShinMaywa’s aircraft and AeroSystems business. Experts from each company will be embedded in the process to support a free and open exchange of knowledge.

This partnership follows on from the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) December 2022 announcement of a £9 million contract with AERALIS, that also seeks to learn from their pioneering approach to digital aircraft design, engineering and manufacturing.

In December 2022 the MoD also announced a collaboration between the two nations, confirming they will work together on the Global Combat Air Programme, bringing together their respective expertise on next generation fighter jet technology.

Tristan Crawford, CEO, AERALIS, said: “Today’s signing between AERALIS and ShinMaywa represents a significant step in the future of aviation design and international collaboration. We are incredibly proud of the pioneering work that AERALIS is doing in this space, and to work with such a distinguished company in the aerospace industry is a testament to this. I look forward to working with ShinMaywa and to identifying the benefits of a digital engineering approach to future programmes.”

Mr Katsuo Tanaka, President, Aircraft Division, ShinMaywa, said: “Application of digital transformation is crucial in the future aircraft manufacturing. This collaboration is the first step towards future programmes and it contributes to enforcement of our aircraft manufacturing business. ”

HE Julia Longbottom CMG, British Ambassador to Japan added: “I am delighted that ShinMaywa and AERALIS have agreed to collaborate on the implementation of Digital Engineering in aircraft design and manufacturing. This is another example of the growing relationship between Japanese and British defence industries, and the benefits of combining our complementary skills and expertise.”