Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
A Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aircraft subsidiary created to develop and commercialize Japan's first domestically developed regional jet.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, commonly abbreviated as MITAC, was a Japanese aerospace company established by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2008 to develop, market, and support a new regional passenger aircraft. Its principal program was the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, later renamed the Mitsubishi SpaceJet. The project was intended to establish a Japanese presence in the modern regional-jet market, where established manufacturers such as Embraer and Bombardier already had substantial engineering, certification, production, and customer-support capabilities. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries held the largest initial shareholding, with Toyota Motor Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation also holding significant minority stakes. Other shareholders included the Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Corporation, and Mitsui & Co. MITAC was headquartered at Nagoya Airfield in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, close to planned MRJ production facilities. It also maintained offices in Nagoya and Tokyo and overseas operations in Amsterdam and Renton, Washington. Although MITAC was the customer-facing development company, production was planned to be carried out primarily by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The aircraft program encountered repeated engineering, certification, scheduling, and organizational difficulties. The MRJ made its first flight in 2015, but the planned entry into service was repeatedly postponed. Design changes, including modifications associated with regulatory requirements and the aircraft's systems and interiors, contributed to the delays. The program was later repositioned as the SpaceJet family, with the M90 positioned as the principal development variant and a smaller M100 variant proposed for markets affected by pilot-scope clauses and other airline operating constraints. Mitsubishi sought to strengthen the project through international partnerships and corporate transactions. In 2019, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced an agreement to acquire Bombardier Aviation's CRJ program. The transaction was intended to provide access to regional-aircraft expertise, certification knowledge, customer relationships, service infrastructure, and type certificates. MITAC also established a SpaceJet Montreal Centre in Canada and conducted flight-test work in Moses Lake, Washington, with AeroTEC. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated budget reductions interrupted flight testing in 2020. In October 2020, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries suspended SpaceJet development as part of a major review of its business priorities. The company subsequently stopped pursuing entry into the commercial jetliner market. On 6 February 2023, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries formally terminated the SpaceJet project and announced plans to liquidate Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. During the liquidation process, the company was renamed MSJ Asset Management Company, and its website was taken offline. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation therefore represents a completed but unsuccessful attempt to create a Japanese regional-jet manufacturer rather than an active aircraft brand.
History
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation was formed on 1 April 2008 as a dedicated Mitsubishi Heavy Industries subsidiary for the development and commercialization of a new Japanese regional jet. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries initially held 64 percent of the company, while Toyota Motor Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation each held 10 percent. Other shareholders included the Development Bank of Japan, Sumitomo Corporation, and Mitsui & Co. The ownership structure reflected an effort to combine Mitsubishi's industrial and aerospace capabilities with the financial and manufacturing resources of major Japanese corporate groups. The company's central product was the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, or MRJ, which was intended to become Japan's first domestically developed passenger jet in the modern regional-aircraft era. MITAC was responsible for development, sales, and support, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries planned to undertake aircraft manufacturing. The company was based near Nagoya Airfield in Komaki, Aichi Prefecture, adjacent to the planned production facilities. It also operated offices in Nagoya and Tokyo, together with overseas subsidiaries in Amsterdam and Renton, Washington. The MRJ program was positioned against established regional-aircraft manufacturers and attracted substantial attention as a potential Japanese aerospace breakthrough. Development proved difficult, however. The aircraft experienced repeated schedule delays and design changes, and its planned entry into service moved substantially later than originally expected. Certification requirements, engineering revisions, and the complexity of building a new commercial-aircraft support system all contributed to the program's prolonged development. The aircraft later received the SpaceJet name. Mitsubishi proposed variants intended to serve different airline requirements, including the M90 and a smaller M100 concept. The program required a geographically distributed development and testing structure. In the United States, flight testing was conducted from Moses Lake, Washington, with AeroTEC. In Canada, MITAC announced the SpaceJet Montreal Centre in 2019 to assist with certification and entry-into-service work. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also attempted to improve the program's industrial foundation through the acquisition of Bombardier Aviation's CRJ business. Announced in June 2019, the transaction included service centers in Canada and the United States, CRJ type certificates, and related expertise in engineering, certification, customer relations, and support. Bombardier was expected to continue assembling CRJ aircraft at Mirabel until its existing backlog was completed. The acquisition was intended to give Mitsubishi a stronger regional-aircraft support platform and potentially assist with North American production and market access. The SpaceJet effort was increasingly affected by rising costs, schedule uncertainty, and the broader commercial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flight testing was stopped in May 2020 following budget reductions. In October 2020, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries suspended development while reassessing its business strategy. The company did not resume the aircraft program or establish commercial production. On 6 February 2023, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ended the SpaceJet project and abandoned its plan to enter the jetliner business. It also announced plans to liquidate Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. By 25 April 2023, the subsidiary had been renamed MSJ Asset Management Company as part of the wind-down, and its website had been taken offline. The company's history is consequently defined by an ambitious national aerospace project, extensive international partnerships, repeated development setbacks, and the eventual withdrawal of its parent company from the commercial-jet market.
- 2023
SpaceJet project is terminated
[1]Mitsubishi Heavy Industries terminated the project and began winding down Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation.
- 2020
Flight testing is halted
[1]Flight testing at Moses Lake was stopped amid budget reductions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2020
SpaceJet development is suspended
[1]Mitsubishi Heavy Industries suspended the SpaceJet program during a review of its business priorities.
- 2019
CRJ program acquisition is announced
[1]Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced its planned acquisition of Bombardier Aviation's CRJ program to strengthen regional-aircraft expertise and support capabilities.
- 2019
SpaceJet Montreal Centre is created
[1]MITAC announced a Montreal-area center for SpaceJet certification and entry-into-service activities.
- 2015
MRJ makes its first flight
[1]The Mitsubishi Regional Jet completed its first flight, marking a major technical milestone for the Japanese regional-aircraft program.
- 2008
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation is established
[1]Mitsubishi Heavy Industries established Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation on 1 April to develop, sell, and support the Mitsubishi Regional Jet.
Products and positioning
A Japanese entrant in the regional-jet market, emphasizing domestic aerospace capability and an aircraft designed for short- to medium-range airline operations.
Regional passenger aircraft
Mitsubishi SpaceJet
The Mitsubishi SpaceJet was the company's principal commercial-aircraft program and was originally known as the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, or MRJ. It was conceived as a family of regional passenger aircraft for short- and medium-range airline operations. The M90 was the principal development variant, while a smaller M100 was proposed for markets with restrictions affecting regional-aircraft operations. Despite completing flight testing milestones and undergoing extensive certification work, the program suffered repeated delays, never entered commercial service, and was terminated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2023.
Brand decisions
2023
Terminate the SpaceJet program and liquidate the subsidiaryStrategyBackground
After development remained suspended, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries concluded that it would not proceed with the commercial jetliner business.
Action taken
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries terminated the SpaceJet project and planned to liquidate Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation.
Aftermath
The subsidiary was renamed MSJ Asset Management Company during the wind-down, and its website was taken offline.
2020
Suspend SpaceJet developmentStrategyBackground
Repeated delays, design changes, certification challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic increased pressure on the program and its budget.
Action taken
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries suspended SpaceJet development while reviewing its business priorities.
Aftermath
The aircraft program did not return to active development, and Mitsubishi later withdrew from plans to enter the commercial jetliner business.
2019
Acquire Bombardier's CRJ programM&ABackground
Mitsubishi sought to strengthen the SpaceJet program with Bombardier's regional-aircraft engineering, certification, customer-support, and service experience.
Action taken
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced an agreement to acquire Bombardier Aviation's CRJ program, including service centers and CRJ type certificates, subject to regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The planned acquisition formed part of Mitsubishi's effort to build a global regional-aircraft support platform, while the SpaceJet itself continued to face development and certification difficulties.
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