Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
Encyclopedia
Mitsubishi Aircraft Company (Mitsubishi Kokuki) was the new name given by the Mitsubishi Company
(Mitsubishi Shokai), in 1928, to its subsidiary, Mitsubishi Internal Combustion (Mitsubishi Nainenki), to reflect its changing role as an aircraft manufacturer catering to the growing demand for military aircraft in Japan.
Mitsubishi Nainenki had been established in Nagoya in 1920, and signed a technology agreement with Junkers
in 1925. By 1926, it had become one the largest aircraft manufacturers in Japan with an output of 69 aircraft and 70 engines.
In 1932, Mitsubishi Aircraft was among the companies that involved in a consolidation process calalysed by the Imperial Japanese Navy
's Aviation Arsenal. The Navy launched a three-year program to have the manufacturers develop certain types of aircraft under competition. Most important of them were the Mitsubishi A5M
(96-Shiki) Carrier Fighter and Mitsubishi G3M
(96-Shiki) Attack Bomber developed by Mitsubishi with engines made by Nakajima Aircraft Company
. Introduced in 1936, it had a maximum speed of 450 km/h. The famous Mitsubishi A6M ("Zero") fighter was an improvement of ththe A5M and had a maximum speed of 500 km/h. Also well known was the Mitsubishi Ki-46
(100-Shiki) reconnaissance plane with a maximum speed of 540 km/h.
In 1934 the company was merged with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding to become Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
(Mitsubishi Jukogyo). It had a prominent role to play in the upsurge of aircraft production in Japan, which shot up from 400 in 1931, to 4,800 in 1941 and peaked at 24,000 in 1944.
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
(Mitsubishi Shokai), in 1928, to its subsidiary, Mitsubishi Internal Combustion (Mitsubishi Nainenki), to reflect its changing role as an aircraft manufacturer catering to the growing demand for military aircraft in Japan.
Mitsubishi Nainenki had been established in Nagoya in 1920, and signed a technology agreement with Junkers
Junkers
Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG , more commonly Junkers, was a major German aircraft manufacturer. It produced some of the world's most innovative and best-known airplanes over the course of its fifty-plus year history in Dessau, Germany. It was founded there in 1895 by Hugo Junkers,...
in 1925. By 1926, it had become one the largest aircraft manufacturers in Japan with an output of 69 aircraft and 70 engines.
In 1932, Mitsubishi Aircraft was among the companies that involved in a consolidation process calalysed by the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
's Aviation Arsenal. The Navy launched a three-year program to have the manufacturers develop certain types of aircraft under competition. Most important of them were the Mitsubishi A5M
Mitsubishi A5M
The Mitsubishi A5M, Japanese Navy designation was "Type 96 carrier-based fighter" was a Japanese carrier-based fighter aircraft. It was the world's first monoplane shipboard fighter and the direct ancestor of the famous Mitsubishi A6M 'Zero'...
(96-Shiki) Carrier Fighter and Mitsubishi G3M
Mitsubishi G3M
The Mitsubishi G3M was a Japanese bomber used during World War II.-Design and development:...
(96-Shiki) Attack Bomber developed by Mitsubishi with engines made by Nakajima Aircraft Company
Nakajima Aircraft Company
The Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer throughout World War II.-History:...
. Introduced in 1936, it had a maximum speed of 450 km/h. The famous Mitsubishi A6M ("Zero") fighter was an improvement of ththe A5M and had a maximum speed of 500 km/h. Also well known was the Mitsubishi Ki-46
Mitsubishi Ki-46
The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was a twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. Its Army Shiki designation was Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft ; the Allied nickname was "Dinah"....
(100-Shiki) reconnaissance plane with a maximum speed of 540 km/h.
In 1934 the company was merged with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding to become Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
(Mitsubishi Jukogyo). It had a prominent role to play in the upsurge of aircraft production in Japan, which shot up from 400 in 1931, to 4,800 in 1941 and peaked at 24,000 in 1944.