MRJ

MRJ stands for Mitsubishi Regional Jet, a family of regional aircraft developed by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, in Nagoya, Japan. The program was conceived to produce a 70- to 90-seat regional jet intended to compete with existing regional jets from Bombardier and Embraer, with variants commonly referred to as the MRJ70, MRJ90, and MRJ100. The aircraft was designed to offer modern efficiency for middle-distance regional routes and to leverage advanced propulsion and aerodynamics alongside a relatively quiet cabin.

The MRJ program began in the 2000s and used the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan as its powerplant. Development and certification plans were repeatedly revised, with the first flight of the MRJ test aircraft occurring in 2015 after years of delay attributed to program challenges, engine integration, and supply-chain issues. In 2017, Mitsubishi Aircraft rebranded the program as SpaceJet, signaling a broader product strategy beyond a single model family, though the core MRJ family remained the focal point.

After continued postponements and a lack of confirmed orders, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced the suspension and eventual termination of the SpaceJet/MRJ program in December 2020. The decision effectively ended efforts to bring a Japanese-produced regional jet to market, and no MRJ/SpaceJet aircraft entered commercial service. The company continued to provide parts and support for existing customers, but the program has not progressed toward certification or production. The MRJ/SpaceJet project remains a notable example of a domestic regional-jet program that did not reach commercialization.