Kawasaki Delivers All Components for Airbus A320neo's First PW1100G-JM Engine

Tokyo, May 28, 2015 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that its Akashi Works has shipped the Fan Exit Stator Assembly designed for the first production model of the Airbus A320neo's PW1100G-JM engine. This stator assembly will be mounted to the front section of the engine's low-pressure compressor. Kawasaki is responsible for supplying 12 primary components of the PW1100G-JM engine's low-pressure compressor, including the Integrated Bladed Rotor (IBR), an integrally machined low-pressure compressor component consisting of a rotor disk and blades. This completes the delivery of all components for the first production engine since shipping began in March 2015.

Kawasaki has been partnering in a program to develop and produce the PW1100G-JM engine that will power the Airbus A320neo. The program was launched jointly by the U.S.-based Pratt & Whitney, Germany’s MTU Aero Engines AG, and Japan Aero Engines Corporation (JAEC) in which Kawasaki is a participating member. In 2011, the International Aero Engines (IAE), a joint venture established by the three organizations, initiated development of the engine, which was issued type certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in December 2014. The PW1100G-JM is a geared turbofan engine whose advanced gear system enables the engine's fan to operate at a lower speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine. The combination of state-of-the-art composite materials technology and advanced component technology boosts fuel efficiency while cutting exhaust emissions and engine noise.

As a partner in the PW1100G-JM engine development and production program, Kawasaki holds a 25% share of the JAEC contract (approximately 6% of the entire program) and is responsible for developing, manufacturing, and maintaining the primary components of the low-pressure compressor. Kawasaki's proprietary advanced machining technology that has been newly integrated into making the engine plays a huge role in reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency.

The revolutionary new A320neo aircraft to be powered by the PW1100G-JM has a seating capacity of 120-200 and is expected to be the most popular class of commercial aircraft. Airbus has already received approximately 4,000 firm orders for the A320neo and the PW1100G-JM is the engine of choice in roughly half of the engine selections made so far.

Kawasaki looks forward to continuing to play an active role in joint aircraft engine development and production programs via JAEC as it builds on the technological and production foundation that is taking its aircraft engine business to new heights.