Japanese firm to build main wings

TOKYO: Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. will design and manufacture the main wings of the next-generation B7E7 passenger jet for Boeing Co., a leading Japanese financial daily reported on Tuesday.

This is the first time that a Japanese company will manufacture main wings, a major component of an aircraft, on contract for a major foreign manufacturer, reported Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

This deal is expected to provide a major boost to the Japanese aircraft industry because it will give domestic producers experience in designing all major aircraft components, the report said.

Japanese companies have developed such parts as tail wings with Boeing, taking on their production. But Boeing has always produced main wings for its aircraft.

Mitsubishi Heavy expects to gain valuable experience and technology from contracting to produce the main wings for the B7E7 jetliner. -- DPA