Next-generation Aircraft Development
Budget and 2050 Target Outcomes
- Budget
Up to51.08B¥
- CO2Reduction Effect
Approx.640Mt
- Economic Effect
Approx.2.1T¥
Related Contents
Project Summary
Budget
Up to51.08billion yen
CO2 Reduction Effect (World)
In 2050: Approximately640million tons
Economic Effect (World)
In 2050: Approximately2.1trillion yen
Research and Development Targets
1. Develop core technology indispensable for realizing hydrogen-powered aircraft.
TRL6+
2. For main wings and other important structural components of small and medium-sized aircraft:
① Realize weight reductions of approximately 30% compared to existing alloy composites. Weight reductions of approximately 30%.
② Realize improved strength for complex shapes and integrated moldings and improve design tolerance by a factor of 1.1 to 1.2 times.
③ Realize TRL of at least 6 for items ① and ② above.
3. Realize 4 MW-class fuel cell of electric propulsion system using liquid hydrogen.
Realize TRL of at least 6.
Develop core technologies of hydrogen fuel cell with high power density (3-4 kW/kg).
4. Develop core technologies in electric power control and thermal/air management systems.
Assumptions regarding estimates of CO2 reduction effect and economic effect
- In 2050, domestic flights using small or medium-sized aircraft (40% of the total flights) will be replaced by electric (including hybrid electric), hydrogen fuel cell, and hydrogen combustion propulsion aircraft, with one third each.
- Weight reduction and electrification technologies (including hybrid electric) will be introduced to the aircraft of international flights and large-sized aircraft, and that the fuel efficiency improvement effects will be 2% and 5%, respectively.
- In 2050, CO2 emissions from jet fuel on international and domestic flights are expected to total 2.0 billion CO2t/year.
- In 2050, demand for new aircraft is expected to consist of approximately 80% for narrow-body aircraft and 20% for wide-body aircraft.
- 50% of narrow-body aircraft (or 40% of the total) are expected to be hydrogen-powered and the other 50% are expected to be electric-powered.
- Technology established through this project is expected to be installed in 20% of airframes and engines of hydrogen aircraft and 12% of all other aircraft (5% due to dramatic weight reduction, 7% due to improved electrification rate).