XANADU Project: Aircraft Digital Transformation Technology Demonstration Project

XANADU: Cross(X)-functional Aviation Network for Advanced Design and Upgrades

In recent years, aircraft have become extremely complex systems, with roughly 100 times as many parts as automobiles. In aircraft development, extensive rework due to design changes and increasingly demanding certification testing have become major issues, leading to significant increases in development schedules and costs.

The use of digital technologies such as Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Certification by Analysis (CbA), and digital thread technology^*1 in the development process is attracting attention as a means of solving these issues. These efforts have begun in Europe and the United States, and are also an urgent priority for Japan’s aircraft industry.

The XANADU Project — the Aircraft Digital Transformation Technology Demonstration Project — aims to maintain and further enhance the aircraft development capabilities that Japan's aircraft industry has cultivated to date, as well as its indispensable role in the international joint development of passenger aircraft. To achieve this, the project will develop standard processes and platforms that make use of digital technologies and can be shared with overseas OEMs. In addition to the tasks assigned to JAXA under K‑Pro Aircraft DX — “Innovation and Process Integration of Aircraft Design, Certification, and Production Processes”^*2, a NEDO‑commissioned research project conducted as part of Japan’s “Key and Advanced Technology R&D through Cross‑Community Collaboration Program (K Program)” ^*3 —, the XANADU Project incorporates JAXA’s own research themes to further maximize the outcomes of K‑Pro Aircraft DX. The XANADU project focuses on three areas: Design DX, Certification DX, and DX platform.

^*1Technology that connects digital data to enable flow-down of requirements from upstream to downstream and retrospective investigation from downstream to upstream
^*2A research initiative commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). NEDO announcement in Japanese:https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101672.html
^*3The K Program (Key and Advanced Technology R&D through Cross-Community Collaboration Program) is a Japanese government initiative supporting advanced, strategically important technologies for national economic security.

Design DX

In design DX, JAXA will develop technology to link its high-precision, high-speed MBD (Model-Based Development) technology, one of its core competencies, with MBSE, and innovate the design process together with the companies participating in K-Pro Aircraft DX. The guidelines and reference models developed in this process will be shared with Japan's aircraft industry.

Certification DX

In certification DX, JAXA will build a Certification by Analysis (CbA) process that replaces certification testing with analytical methods. Working together with the companies participating in K-Pro Aircraft DX, and ensuring alignment with international reliability- assurance frameworks, JAXA will create highly practical guidelines.

DX Platform

In the DX platform, by establishing data sharing methods and advanced digital thread technology between multiple organizations, JAXA will develop methods to seamlessly connect and integrate the processes of the design, certification, and production phases, and build a platform applicable to international joint development.

Image of XANADU project

Image of “Innovation and Process Integration of Aircraft Design, Certification and Production Processes” and JAXA’s task

February 17, 2026