KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Company originated 1923 at Gifu when opened as Kakamigahara subplant for aircraft division of Kawasaki Dockyards. Present Gifu facility is on 712,000 m² (7.66 million sq ft) site with 291,000 m² (3.13 million sq ft) covered area. Nagoya 1 Works, opened December 1992, has site and covered areas of 71,000 and 10,000 m² (764,250 and 107,650 sq ft) respectively; corresponding figures for Nagoya 2 (opened 1979) are 18,000 and 6,000 m² (193,750 and 64,600 sq ft).
Kawasaki Aircraft Company has built many US aircraft under license since 1955; amalgamated with Kawasaki Dockyard Company and Kawasaki Rolling Stock Manufacturing Company to form Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd 1 April 1969; Aerospace Group employs some 3,200 people; Gas Turbine & Machinery Group has some 800 aerospace-related employees. Kawasaki has had 25 per cent holding in Nippi since 1970; increased to 100 per cent with effect from 1 April 2003.
Kawasaki prime contractor on recently completed T-4 programme and for OH-1 observation helicopter; now also leading development of C-X/P-X transport/maritime patroller programme; co-developer and co-producer, with Eurocopter, of BK 117/EC 145 helicopter; is prime contractor for Japanese licensed production of CH-47 Chinooks for JGSDF and JASDF; was prime contractor for P-3C variants for JMSDF (now completed); also built MD Helicopters MD 500 under licence.
Subcontract work includes centre fuselage for Mitsubishi F-2; currently producing forward and centre-fuselage barrel sections and wing ribs for Boeing 767 and 777, plus rear centre wing box and rear pressure bulkhead for 777. Delivery of blended winglets for retrofit of early-model Boeing 737s (-300/400/500) began in October 2002. Acquisition of Nippi brings in additional component work for Boeing 747 (fuselage frames) and 777 (wing in-spar ribs and nosewheel doors); Mitsubishi F-2 (wing pylons); and Shin Maywa US-1AKai (main landing gear fairing). Kawasaki also responsible for design and sole-source manufacture of transmission for MD Helicopters Explorer; in 1999 signed agreement with Aerostructures of USA to manufacture cabin doors and tailcones for Bell/Agusta BA609. Risk-sharing partner on Embraer 170/175 and 190/195, for which wing components built by Kawasaki Aeronautica do Brasil in new Neiva-built facility 300 km (186 miles) north-west of Sao Jose dos Campos, inaugurated 24 April 2003. Nominated as prime contractor for maintenance and support of JASDF E-2C Hawkeyes, E-767 AWACS and C-130 Hercules.
Kawasaki also extensivety involved in satellites and launch vehicles; is member of International Aero Engines consortium and produces T53 and T55 engines under licence; overhauls engines; and bnilds hangars, docks, passenger bridges and other airport equipment.
