OREANDA-NEWS.  Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, and four other Japanese aerospace companies,*1 together with Japan Aircraft Development Corporation (JADC), today signed a formal agreement with Boeing on their participation in the development and production of Boeing’s new 777X airplane. This agreement was drawn up by adding terms and conditions to the 2014 memorandum of agreement*2 between Boeing, the five Japanese aerospace companies, and JADC.

The 777X, as the successor to the 777 series of large-size twin-engine passenger jets, includes the 777-8X and 777-9X models. Boeing says production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020.

As with the existing 777, FHI will be responsible for center wing section, integration of the center wing section with the main landing gear wheel wells, main landing gear doors, and wing-to-body fairings (forward). FHI is currently gearing up for production at its Utsunomiya Plant (Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture) and Handa Plant (Handa City, Aichi Prefecture). At the Handa Plant, a new assembly facility is under construction for producing the center wing section of the 777X.

FHI will strive to strengthen its presence in the global aerospace industry by further enhancing its engineering excellence and its good partnership with Boeing.