Taiga Heavy Industries
Taiga Heavy Industries (Taiga-jyūkō大河重工) was a major Japanese aircraft manufacturer in the Ace Combat: Assault Horizon universe. They were the developers of the ASF-X Shinden II and its production model, the F-3 Shinden II.
History
Early history
Taiga was founded in 1874 (the early years of the Meiji era) by Japanese merchants as the Taiga Store, a company specializing in selling iron cookware from the United States. The introduction of hydraulic cookpresses from the United Kingdom allowed them to produce their own products, netting them the moniker of the "Pot Plant". Taiga existed well into the Shōwa period, where they became one of the first creators of thermally conductive aluminum pans.[citation needed]
After the start of World War II in 1941, Taiga were forced by Hirohito's government to abandon cookware production to fabricate ammunition for the Imperial Army, and returned to their occupation after the surrender of Japan. The lack of proper materials forced them to create "Zero pots", the nickname given to cookware made from unused aluminum meant for aircraft.[citation needed]
Evolution to THI
Following the order of General Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers to lift the ban imposed on indigenous aircraft production in 1956, Taiga adopted the name of "Taiga Heavy Industries" and joined the aviation industry as a member of the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies, SJAC. By the 1960s, they were responsible for the licensed manufacture of the Self-Defense Forces' T-34 Mentor trainer. A brief venture into the business sector was attempted with the TTJ-60 jet, which failed to garner major attention.[citation needed]
Taiga continued to exist into the 21st century as one of Japan's prime aircraft producers. The September 11 attacks of 2001 led it to purchase and assimilate the American brand Fore Jet to increase user safety through its products. The TFJ-01 GoldStar business jet, which became the basis for the ASF-X Shinden II, was mainly developed using its materials. THI was tasked by the former Defense Agency of Japan in 2009 to produce the ASF-X, which was later tested at the company's airfield at Yokozuka.[citation needed]
Trivia
- The full name of Taiga, along with its aviation products, appear to be based on Fuji Heavy Industries. As well, the TTJ-60 is a reference to the YS-11 of the defunct Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC), which similarly failed to attract much attention from international markets.