Rolls-Royce plc and
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Aero Engines, Ltd (MHIAEL) — a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) — recently held a ceremony at MHIAEL to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their partnership, which was initiated with the 2004 signing of their first Risk & Revenue Sharing Partnership Agreement. At the ceremony, executives from both companies gave speeches expressing gratitude for the long-standing collaboration and affirmed intent on further developing joint business opportunities and deepening the relationship for the future.
MHI/MHIAEL and Rolls-Royce began their collaboration in 2004 with the Trent 1000 engine programme that powers the Boeing 787 fleet; they have since expanded this collaboration to encompass engine programmes that power a further three aircraft types: the Trent XWB-84 programme that powers the Airbus A350-900 fleet in 2008, the Trent XWB-97 programme that powers the Airbus A350-1000 fleet in 2013, and the Trent 7000 programme that powers the Airbus A330neo fleet in 2015.
Masanori Ushida, MHIAEL’s president and CEO, said: “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Rolls-Royce for this important milestone of 20 years since our collaboration in 2004. Over the past 20 years, our relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership in the wide-body engine business through business operations, technological development, and personnel exchange. As a result, our business with Rolls-Royce has steadily grown as an important pillar of our company. I am confident that we will continue to develop our business and deepen our collaboration in this field.”
Rob Watson, Rolls-Royce’s president of civil aerospace, added: “We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with MHIAEL. This trusted relationship has been driven by the dedication of employees in both companies, looking to consistently deliver high-quality products that address the opportunities and challenges of the future.
He concluded: “It is long-term win-win partnerships of this kind that lead next generation thinking for our customers, deepening world-class engineering and technology. We’re looking forward to many more years of collaboration with MHIAEL and building this great relationship in Japan.”