Airbus and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) signed an agreement at the recent Paris Air Show to undertake cooperative research on composite materials.

The field of research will include the evaluation of vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding and non-destructive inspection technologies for composite materials.

After the first phase ends, Airbus and JAXA plan to extend ties to do further research on other innovative technologies in the aerospace sector.

The initiative is the first such research cooperation between Airbus and a Japanese aerospace agency.

JAXA aviation programme group executive director Takashi Ishikawa said that this agreement will open a new chapter for its relationship with Europe.

JAXA, a national research and development organisation for Japanese aerospace and technology, has previously partnered with European research institutes like the French aerospace lab (ONERA) and the German aerospace centre (DLR).