How scandal reshaped US-2 production

The earlier aircraft remained useful long enough to justify a replacement, but the US-2 program ran into political trouble. The Fuji-linked case brought arrests, bribery charges, suspended sentences, and government sanctions. Fuji withdrew, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries took its place while ShinMaywa retained responsibility for the main components and assembly. Mitsubishi's work included outer wings, horizontal stabilizers, and rudders. Kawasaki supplied forward and mid-fuselage sections and vertical stabilizers, while other suppliers contributed items such as wave-dampening plates and landing-gear structures. Some component names were difficult to interpret through translation from Japanese technical sources. ShinMaywa relied on a major conglomerate for purchasing power, access to materials, and political weight, and the replacement partnership kept the niche aircraft program moving.