According to a report from Nikkei Asia, large Japanese engineering corporations such as Subaru and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are partnering with Japan's space agency, JAXA, to investigate and develop technology for commercial supersonic passenger aircraft.
Japan Supersonic Research, a new public-private partnership, was launched on Wednesday, June 16.
It was purportedly established in response to the country's aviation industry' desire to expand beyond their current roles as suppliers to western airlines.
Though Aerion, a supersonic jet manufacturer, declared its closure last month owing to a lack of funding, others, such as Boom Supersonic, are ushering in a new age for commercial supersonic flight.
According to a news release from JAXA, flying from Japan to Europe or the United States takes about 12 hours on average. The space agency believes that using supersonic aircraft, the new programme will be able to cut this period in half.
Though supersonic travel may initially be more expensive than ordinary planes, technological advancements will certainly make supersonic travel more inexpensive in the long term.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, IHI, and Japan Aircraft Development Corp are also members of Japan Supersonic Research, which intends to generate new opportunities for Japan's aerospace industry.
Among the scientific knowledge that JAXA will bring to the table is a decade of research into using longer, more streamlined planes to reduce the problem of sonic boom — the Concorde was not allowed to fly supersonic over inhabited areas.
By reducing air friction, among other things, the Japanese space agency has cut fuel usage by 13% when compared to the Concorde. Its aeroplane prototype is also 21% lighter than its illustrious forerunner.
After years of delays in Mitsubishi Heavy's plans to develop the Mitsubishi Aircraft, the new Japan Supersonic Research programme will try to jumpstart Japan's efforts to create its first homegrown passenger aircraft.
Boom Supersonic, based in Denver, Colorado, expects to launch a smaller prototype of its aircraft, the XB-1, this year, and has funded more than $200 million to help bring commercial supersonic travel back.
