ShinMaywa pursues further US-2 orders to keep production capability

ShinMaywa is pressing for additional orders of its US-2 amphibian as it builds the tenth aircraft of the type, according to a company report. The Japanese manufacturer's immediate aim is to finish that airframe for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Tokyo has not yet announced whether it will commit to an eleventh aircraft. ShinMaywa wants that order, along with longer-term maintenance work on the JMSDF's US-2 fleet, to keep the production line and support business on a steadier footing. The company is targeting annual US-2-related revenue of between Y8 billion and Y10 billion, equivalent to roughly $51 million to $63 million.

The US-2 is used for long-range search and rescue. It is the second-largest amphibian in the world, behind the AVIC AG600. Four Rolls-Royce AE2100J turboprops power the aircraft, which has a maximum range of 2,540nm (4,700km) and can operate in swells of up to 3m (10ft).

A boundary-layer-control system sets the type apart. Compressed air is released through slots in the flaps to stop airflow separating, raising lift and allowing the aircraft to land in sea states that other amphibians cannot handle.

The report also covers other aerospace activity. ShinMaywa has said it is flight-testing an unmanned amphibian, known as the XU-M II, for ocean research work. That test vehicle is one-fifth the size of a proposed full-scale unmanned amphibian.

On the commercial side, the company supplies wing spars for the Boeing 787, wing-body fairings for the 777 and 777X, and components for the Bombardier Global 7500 business jet.