Two composites technologies already identified for evaluation are vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding (VaRTM) and non-destructive inspection (NDI). Once the first cooperation phase is successfully concluded, Airbus and JAXA intend to extend it further to other areas.

This agreement marks the first research cooperation between aircraft manufacturer Airbus and a Japanese aerospace agency.

JAXA, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a national research and development organisation for Japanese aerospace science and technology.

Airbus, headquartered in Toulouse, France, is an EADS company.