is the aerospace division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI). It produces aircraft, space systems, simulators, jet engines, missiles, and electronic equipment.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Kawasaki Aircraft Industries developed numerous types of aircraft for the Imperial Japanese Army, such as the Type 88 reconnaissance aircraft, the Ki-48 Sokei bomber, and the Ka 61 Hien fighter, up until the end of the Second World War. Shortly after the occupation of Japan started in 1945, Japan's aviation industry was intentionally dismantled and aircraft factories converted for other purposes; the ban on aircraft development was lifted during March 1954, allowing for the nation's aviation industry to be revived. During 1969, Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo KK was restructured as a formal subsidiary of KHI.
Throughout the postwar era, the company has produced numerous aircraft under license from various overseas manufacturers for Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, alongside its own designs. Licensed aircraft have included the P-2J (derived from the Lockheed P-2 Neptune), KH-4 helicopters (derived from the Bell 47), Kawasaki KV-107 helicopters (derived from the Boeing Vertol 107 Model II), and CH-47J / JA heavy-lift helicopters. Indigenously developed aircraft of the postwar era have included the Kawasaki C-1 and Kawasaki C-2 military transports, the Kawasaki KAT-1 and Kawasaki T-4 trainer aircraft, the Kawasaki OH-1 reconnaissance helicopter, and the Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft.
On 1 April 2018, the aircraft engine business of KHI's Gasturbine & Machinary Company division merged with Kawasaki Aerospace Company, and the division was renamed Kawasaki Aerospace Systems Company.
History Genesis and early years was one of Japan's first aircraft companies. It was founded during 1918 as a subsidiary of the heavy-industrial conglomerate Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe. Prior to the conclusion of the Second World War, Kawasaki mostly supplied aircraft and aircraft engines to the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF).
During the early 1930s, Kawasaki built Salmson biplanes and engines under license, and also developed a number of its own designs. Kawasaki hired the noted German Aerospace engineer and designer, Dr. Richard Vogt, from 1923 to 1933 to assist with design work and to train Japanese engineers. Among Vogt's pupils was Takeo Doi, the future chief designer for Kawasaki. Vogt later went on to become chief designer for German industrial corporation Blohm & Voss.
Kawasaki obtained a license from Dornier for all-metal construction flying boats, and the Kawasaki-Dornier Wal made a notable flight in December 1924; however, Kawasaki thereafter specialized in land planes. Noted designs include the:
Company designations KDA-2 – company designation for the Type 88 reconnaissance aircraft KDA-3 – single-seat parasol fighter prototype (1928); lost to the Nakajima NC KDA-5 – company designation for the Type 92 fighter KDA-6 – prototype reconnaissance aircraft KDA-7 – company designation for the Ki-3 KDC-2 – mail plane/passenger transport developed from the Type 88 KDC-5 – company designation for the C-5
Army designations Type Otsu-1 Reconnaissance Aircraft – reconnaissance biplane; Salmson 2A.2 built under license Ka 87 – twin-engine heavy bomber; Japanese-built Dornier Do N (1926) Type 88 – single-engine reconnaissance biplane (1927) Type 92 – single-seat biplane fighter (1930) Ki-3 – single-engine biplane bomber; last IJAAF biplane bomber design (1933) Ki-5 – experimental single-engine monoplane fighter (1934) Ki-10 – single-seat biplane fighter; last IJAAF biplane fighter (1935) Ki-22 – heavy bomber (not built) Ki-28 – single-engine experimental fighter (1936); cancelled in favor of the Nakajima Ki-27 Ki-32 – single-engine monoplane bomber (1937) Ki-38 – proposed twin-engine fighter, predecessor of Ki-45 (1937) Ki-45 Toryu (屠龍, Dragon Slayer)- twin-engine fighter (1939) Ki-48 – twin-engine light bomber (1939) Ki-56 – twin-engine light transport, developed from the Lockheed Model 14 Electra (1940) Ki-60 – experimental single-engine fighter (1941) Ki-61 Hien (飛燕, Flying Swallow) – single-seat fighter (1941) Ki-64 – experimental single-seat heavy fighter (1943) Ki-66 – prototype dive bomber based on the Ki-48 Ki-78 – high-speed research aircraft (1942) Ki-81 – proposed multi-seat escort fighter based on the Ki-48 (not built) Ki-85 – proposed IJA bomber version of Nakajima G5N (not built) Ki-88 – proposed single-seat fighter (not built) Ki-89 – experimental bomber (not built) Ki-91 – prototype four-engine heavy bomber (1944) Ki-96 – experimental twin-engine heavy fighter (1941) Ki-100 – radial-engine fighter/interceptor (1944) Ki-102 – twin-engine long-range heavy fighter (1944) Ki-108 – high-altitude fighter version of Ki-102 Ki-119 – single-engine light bomber (not built) Ki-147 – radio-guided air to surface missile Ki-148 – radio-guided air-to-surface missile (1944) Ki-174 – single-seat special attack version of Ki-48 (not built)
Civil aircraft A-6 – civil version of KDA-6 C-5 – high-speed, long-range communications aircraft (1934)
Engines Ha9 – BMW VI built under license Ha40 – Daimler-Benz DB 601Aa built under license, later known as the Ha-60; used in the Ki-61 Ha140 – higher-power version of Ha40; used in the Ki-61-II Ha201 – two Ha40s coupled together with a common gearbox, later known as the Ha-72; used in the Ki-64
Post-war development
During the occupation of Japan after the end of the Second World War, all of Japan's aerospace industry was dismantled, designs destroyed and plants converted to other uses. Japan would become free of military occupation, and shortly after many American imposed bans were lifted, the ban on aircraft development was lifted during March 1954, a new company was founded by the merger of subsidiary companies K.K. Kawasaki Gifu Seisakusho and Kawasaki Kikai Kogyo K.K., retaining the name of the pre-war Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo KK.
The Kawasaki KAL-1, first flown in July 1953, was the first postwar all-metal aircraft of Japanese design. Early production activity at the company included 210 Lockheed T-33 jet trainers, 48 Lockheed P-2H Neptune maritime patrol aircraft and 239 Bell 47 helicopters, all under license from the United States.
In response to encouragement from the Japanese government, during 1957, Kawasaki joined in a joint venture, participating along with various other Japanese aerospace companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Fuji Heavy Industries, Shin Meiwa, Showa Aircraft Industry Company and Japan Aircraft Industry Company in the development and manufacturing what would become the NAMC YS-11, an indigenously developed twin-turboprop airliner.Endres 1996, p. 22.Taylor 1966, p. 107. Kawasaki provided both personnel and infrastructure for the venture, manufacturing various components of the YS-11.Odagiri, Odagiri and Akira 1996, pp. 224-225.
During April 1969, Kawasaki Kokuki K.K. was dissolved, its assets being restructured as a division of the reorganized Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).
Under Kawasaki Heavy Industries
During April 1969, the former Kawasaki Kokuki K.K. was dissolved and became a division of the reorganized Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI). Kawasaki is a major contractor for the Japanese Ministry of Defense. Although in November 1970, Kawasaki completed Japan's first domestically designed twin turbofan military transport, the C-1, the company concentrated primarily on licensed production of derivatives of American patrol aircraft and helicopters through the 1990s. Kawasaki built 82 P-2Js (derived from the Lockheed P-2 Neptune), 211 KH-4 helicopters (derived from the Bell 47), 160 Kawasaki KV-107 helicopters (derived from the Boeing Vertol 107 Model II), and Hughes/McDonnell Douglas Model 500D and OH-6DA helicopters. Kawasaki also built 101 P-3C antisubmarine warfare patrol airplanes plus four EP-3/UP-3D electronic intelligence/training variants, and 68 CH-47J / JA.
On 25 February 1977, Kawasaki and German aerospace manufacturer Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of a new rotorcraft; under the terms of this agreement, the two corporations merged their previously separate projects to produce twin-engined general purpose helicopters, these being the Bo 107 by MBB and the KH-7 from Kawasaki.Air International April 1989, p. 163. Separate elements were assigned to each company; MBB were responsible for developing the rotors (these were based on the rigid rotor system previously used on MBB's Bo 105), tailboom, flight controls and hydraulic system while Kawasaki undertook the development of the landing gear, airframe, main transmission, electrical system and other minor components. Each company established their own final assembly lines on which they produced the rotorcraft to meet demands within their respective local markets.Air International April 1989, p. 164.McCellan 1986, p. 66.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Kawasaki developed an indigenous intermediate jet trainer and liaison aircraft, the T-4. Manufacture was performed by a consortium consisting of Mitsubishi, Fuji, and Kawasaki, the latter providing leadership over the venture.Middleton and Lowe 1988, p. 20. The final assembly line for the type was established at Kawasaki's plant in Gifu, capable of producing a maximum of two and a half aircraft per month.Middleton and Lowe 1988, p. 21. In addition to economic and performance consideration, the T-4's design had to incorporate political desires as well; significant emphasis had been placed upon powering it with the first all-Japanese production turbofan engine, the Ishikawajima-Harima F3-IHI-30.Middleton and Lowe 1988, p. 19. According to aerospace publication Flight International, it was considered plausible for the T-4 to have been a competitive product upon the global trainer aircraft market, but such opportunities were denied by a long-standing Japanese policy that forbid military export sales.Middleton and Lowe 1988, p. 17.
On 18 September 1992, Kawasaki was appointed by the Ministry of Defense to produce the OH-1, an indigenously designed armed observation and light attack helicopter."OH-1 Light Observation Helicopter." Kawasaki, Retrieved: 26 June 2016.Aoki 1999, pp. 37–44. It was responsible for manufacturing 50 per cent of the airframe, as well as coordinating development of its rotor system; the remaining airframe elements were manufactured by Mitsubishi and Fuji."Rotorcraft Forecast: Kawasaki OH-1." Forecast International, September 2013. During June 1998, after finalising a production contract and receipt of an initial order earlier that year, series production of the OH-1 officially commenced.Taylor 1999, p. 305.Lewis, Paul. "First OH-1 scout helicopters poised for series production." Flight International, 29 April 1998. By the late 1990s, the JGSDF had announced that its plans to eventually procure between 150 and 250 OH-Xs to meet its requirements. Kawasaki has proposed multiple derivatives of the OH-1, including a utility variant intended to replace the JGSDF's fleet of Fuji-built Bell UH-1J Iroquois helicopters,"KHI prepares bid for UH-X." Flight International, 14 June 2005. and an attack-oriented version tentatively designated as the AH-2.Lewis, Paul. "Japan eyes attack helicopter." Flight International, 31 July 1996."Japan ready to flight test attack helicopter." Flight International, 7 October 1998.