MHIRJ, Maeve Aerospace To Partner On M80 Development

MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) and Maeve Aerospace are teaming up for the development of Maeve’s planned M80 80-seat regional aircraft.

In a joint statement, the companies said the partnership will cover engineering and advisory services by MHIRJ.

The M80 is a proposed hybrid-electric regional aircraft developed by Maeve, which is based in Delft, Netherlands, and Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The aircraft is to fly missions of up to 1,200 nm with as many as 84 passengers.

The company says the M80 will be able to reduce emissions by 40% because of its hybrid-electric architecture. Electric motors are planned to be used mainly for climb performance. The aircraft is to cruise at 35,000 ft. at speeds in excess of 400 kt.

Maeve’s timeline is for the M80 to undergo critical design review by the beginning of 2028 with first flight in 2030 and entry-into-service in 2032. Maeve announced a partnership with Pratt & Whitney Canada for development of the hybrid-electric propulsion system at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow.

In 2019, MHI bought the now out-of-production legacy Bombardier CRJ program and is offering product support for the regional aircraft. The Japanese aviation sector has been exploring options how it might return to commercial aviation with a new product. In 2021, Mitsubishi suspended its SpaceJet regional airliner program in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and amid escalating development costs. It officially terminated the program in 2023.

“We are teaming up with the best in regional aviation to bring an aircraft to market that meets the unique needs of regional networks around the world,” Maeve chief technology officer Martin Nuesseler said.

“This new alliance presents a fantastic opportunity for us to invest our expertise and skills in a project that will undoubtedly transform the future of regional aviation,” MHIRJ president and COO Ismail Mokabel said.