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NK-93 High-Bypass Turbofan

The unique domestic aircraft engine NK-93 was designed in the mid-1980s at the SNTK imeni N.D.Kuznetsov and produced at the plant "Motorostroitel" (now PJSC "Kuznetsov", Samara). Ground-based and flight tests showed that the screw-driver bi-reactive model was more effective in comparison with existing domestic and foreign samples. This was actually the first Russian engine of the fifth generation. It overlaps with all ICAO noise and environmental requirements. In fact, a breakthrough high-tech product of domestic production, ahead of foreign competitors by 10 years, which was so necessary in the context of urgent import substitution.

Turbopropfan engine, which has no analogues in its design, showed high performance characteristics during flight tests in 2007. The degree of bypass at the NK-93 is 16.7. The specific fuel consumption according to measurements is at the level of 0.49 kg/kgf/h. There are studies confirming that, with a degree of bypass ratio of 12 thrust reversal, it is advisable to carry out exactly as it was done in NK-93. At one time, the German company MTU bought in Russia a report on the acoustic characteristics of NK-93.

But for some reason, the government of the Russian Federation did not pay much attention to the engine, despite the conclusions of leading designers and even the instructions of the first persons of the state. In particular, there was a direct assignment of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of March 31, 2009 No. VP-P12-1782 (Section 8) for conducting flight tests of the NK-93. It was prescribed to allocate the necessary funds. But the tests were discontinued. An innovative project that is able to dramatically increase exports of high-tech products was relegated to the background.

These facts are noted in the report of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation on the results of the inspection of August 8 - November 4, 2011. In particular, it said: “In violation of clause 1 of Article 158 of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia (the main manager) did not ensure the effectiveness of using the federal budget funds in the amount of 345.8 million rubles aimed at creating and testing a technological demonstrator of the NK aviation engine -93 ".

On June 1, 2011, in the State Duma, with the invitation of leading designers and engineers, hearings were held on the situation with NK-93. And on June 15 at CIAM Baranova there was a meeting with the general and chief designers who participated in the development and fine-tuning of the engine. As a result, a protocol was signed with a proposal to complete flight tests of NK-93. July 12 of the same year, President Dmitry Medvedev at a meeting with the leaders of the Duma factions after watching a film about the flight tests of the NK-93 became very interested in them, putting a resolution: "V. Yu. Surkov. An interesting idea, work with the government." But formal replies followed, repeating the same arguments about the allegedly outdated development, that there was no aircraft for this engine and that the scientific and technical basis obtained would be taken into account when creating the PD-14.

And the fact that the already finished NK-93 significantly surpassed the PD-14 in its characteristics and only three billion rubles (against 80 billion spent on PD-14) were required to bring the first to mass production, for some reason was not mentioned. As well as the fact that under it were ready projects of the heavy transport IL-106 and the medium Tu-330.

At the beginning of 2012, a collective appeal letter was sent from 25 deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation to Vladimir Putin on the same topic. On November 30, 2013, at the meeting of the president with the leaders of political parties, the question of the fate of NK-93 was again raised. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been instructed to investigate the situation. The Office responded in the old way.

In the early 2000s, 10 prototypes of the NK-93 were manufactured, but in those years the government was not in the mood for financing new developments. As a result, the engine was not brought to launch into mass production, the flight tests were stopped, and the manufactured copies were sent for storage in Samara. Although it could be successfully used on such liners as the IL-96-300, IL-96-400, Tu-214, An-124, Il-106, Tu-330, as well as on the ekranoplans.

At the same time, Western competitors were rapidly "borrowing" from such achievements. Currently, such schemes of aircraft engines are being actively developed abroad. This promises unattainable for modern engines, fuel economy and noiselessness. An example is the promising engine of the Rolls-Royce LEAP, which had already been released for flight tests. According to the design scheme, it copied the NK-93. In the early 2000s, the NK-93 overtook its time and, therefore, including, obviously, was not supported by the leadership of the domestic aviation industry. With regard to the use of the obtained scientific and technical reserve, the most promising is the creation of motors with ultra-high bypass. This will allow Russia to return to world leaders in the aircraft engine industry.