SpaceJet

SpaceJet is the brand name used by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation for a family of Japanese regional jet airliners developed from the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) program. Intended to fill the 70- to 90-seat segment, the SpaceJet aircraft were designed to compete with regional jets from Embraer and Bombardier by offering efficient performance, modern avionics, and a domestic production base in Nagoya, Japan, with components sourced internationally.

Development of the program began in 2008 as Japan’s effort to build a domestically produced commercial jet. It was later renamed SpaceJet in the mid-2010s as part of a broader branding strategy. The aircraft featured a twin-engine, low-wing configuration and used Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines, along with advanced avionics and composite wing elements. The first flight occurred on May 11, 2015, and certification efforts with the FAA and EASA targeted the late 2010s.

Commercial prospects and status: The program struggled to secure a steady stream of orders and faced certification delays and supply-chain challenges, further pressured by market weakness and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced that it would terminate the SpaceJet program, effectively ending MRJ/SpaceJet development and any production plans. As a result, no SpaceJet aircraft entered service, and the project remains a notable example of Japan’s efforts to re-enter the commercial airliner market.

Legacy: The SpaceJet initiative highlighted the technical capabilities and global supply ecosystems required for regional jets, as well as the market and certification hurdles faced by new entrants in commercial airliner production.