Kawasahi Heavy Industries Ltd is considering entry into the air cargo plane manufacturing business and may begin sales of commercial freighters from 2012.

The manufacturer is currently gearing up to start production of a C-X military transport plane for Japan's armed forces in 2007, and if the tests go to plan, the manufacturer said it may begin work on a civilian version, reports the Nikkei business daily.

"We will think about fleshing out possible plans for a civilian version once the first test plane has had its first flight, which is planned for some time this summer," said Kawasaki Heavy spokeswoman Yuko Ogino.

"But it is not as though we have firmed up our plans from before," she added.

A Reuters report said that Kawasaki Heavy may commence work on designing the specifications for the freighter, which is expected to be a small- to medium-sized aircraft, from 2009 in a bid to henceforth secure orders.