Will Provide Electrical, Fire Suppression Systems, APU

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) announced Wednesday it selected Hamilton Sundstrand to provide several major systems on its proposed Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ).

Hamilton Sundstrand's suite of systems for each MRJ includes the electric system (including emergency power), fire detection and suppression system, air management system, Auxiliary Power Unit and flap/slat actuation system.

"Hamilton Sundstrand's onboard systems will provide a great boost for the MRJ in the future regional jet market, and will offer unprecedented value for our customers," said Junichi Miyakawa, MHI's MRJ program manager. "We also expect the synergy between Hamilton Sundstrand's excellent technologies and the already selected Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan(TM) engine, both belonging to United Technologies Corp., to result in tremendous achievements for the MRJ."

As ANN reported, MHI formally launched in October. The 70-90 seat class aircraft is designed to compete in the increasingly crowded regional aircraft market. To date, the project doesn't have a launch customer, though the company plans to begin marketing efforts early next year.

MHI expects demand for about 5,000 airplanes of the MRJ class in the global regional jet market during the next 20 years.

"Hamilton Sundstrand is very excited by the opportunity to work with MHI as partners on the MRJ," said Hamilton Sundstrand President David Hess. "Our success on the program is further evidence of our position as a leading integrator of aircraft systems."

In November, MHI selected Rockwell Collins to provide avionics for the new jet.

FMI: www.mrj-japan.com, www.hamiltonsundstrandcorp.com