Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) has secured its formerly doubtful future as a helicopter builder by winning a competition to supply a utility helicopter for the Japanese army in partnership with Bell. In choosing FHI and the well-established Bell 412 for the army UH-X program over a Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) offer, the defense ministry has minimized spending and risk in development. KHI proposed the Airbus H160, which is still being developed. AgustaWestland also made a bid. Full-scale development is due to begin this year, with production of 150 aircraft at an average rate of 7.5 a year from 2021, not counting a planned civil version. Production cost is estimated at ¥1.2 billion ($8.1 million) per helicopter.
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