"Soyuz-2.1 v" quarrels with the creators of space engines
Despite the successful completion of the Soyuz-2.1 v flight and design tests, this light-class launch vehicle did not perform a single launch last year. The situation is aggravated by the struggle between UEC-Kuznetsov and PNO Energomash for orders of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for the main engine of the first stage.
The formation of vertically integrated structures in the military-industrial complex did not save it from unhealthy internal competition caused by the presence of parallel developments of products and systems that are similar in purpose and properties. This often took place in the "well-fed" Soviet times, when no money was spared for defense, and sometimes continues in modern Russia even in conditions of strict budget restrictions. So, in the new century, the Soyuz-2.1 v and Angara-1 launch vehicles were created with similar characteristics.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited "wave of orders" for light satellites did not come, and launches of Russian missiles with such as a payload are carried out infrequently. Mainly in the interests of the military department, for putting reconnaissance satellites into orbit.
This puts the industry in a difficult position, which is often deprived of the ability to plan production even in the medium term. With regard to the Soyuz-2.1 v, we are primarily talking about the supply of a first-stage main engine. In the role of the latter, both the NK-33–1, designed and manufactured by UEC-Kuznetsov (Samara), and the RD-193 of NPO Energomash (Khimki) can act. They develop the same thrust (about 200 tons) and are similar in other characteristics, but they differ greatly in price. So it turns out, since the " Kuznetsov "product is an old one, from storage warehouses, and the "Energomashev" one is a new release.
It would seem that why order completely new and expensive products, when you can completely do already made for a much lower price? But not everything is so simple. First, the NGO "Energomash" has been functioning in the system of the Russian space Agency, which includes a developer and manufacturer of missiles of the Roman Catholic Church "Progress". Internal corporate considerations dictate the need for procurement within the company's own production cooperation. Secondly, the RD-193 is a new product, a member of a growing family based on the basic RD-170. He "like air, like bread" needs to collect more cargo launches, during which "children's diseases"are detected. The elimination of the detected design flaws is an important stage for the rocket engine family, especially when there are plans for its use in manned space exploration.
For its part, UEC-Kuznetsov is part of the United Engine Corporation (UEC), which is subordinate to Rostec. The main specialization is aircraft engines, and rocket engines are a kind of" side " products. However, for "UEC-Kuznetsov" the share of the latter in the total revenue is as much as 40%. Historically, the company produces them from 1958 to the present. The main volume is accounted for by the RD-107/108 family developed by NPO Energomash. But there is also a product of its own design NK-33. The release of the latter was discontinued, but the company retained a huge backlog, as well as the possibility of restarting the series.
As Alexey Sobolev, Deputy General Director and Managing Director of UEC – Kuznetsov, explained to journalists, "the amount of reserve that we still have for NK-33 covers all the needs identified by the customer for the next decade. Therefore, the issue of restarting production is not on the agenda today. If there is a corresponding order from the Ministry of Defense, the finished engines that are at the enterprise can be put into operation, adapting them to current requirements."
The groundwork was created thanks to the Soviet lunar program, which created a huge rocket N-1 with a launch mass of about 3 thousand tons, with tests in 1969-1972. All four launches were unsuccessful, and it was closed. One and a half hundred NK-33s made by that time were subject to destruction. However, using his high authority and connections in the highest echelons of power, General designer Nikolai Kuznetsov managed to convince the country's leadership, and instead of recycling the engines he developed, they were mothballed "until better times". Came perestroika, and suggested that the firm "Aerojet". She assessed the technical level of the NK-33 as significantly superior to American developments and considered it necessary to use it in the interests of the US space program. 37 copies were exported.
The latter ended in failure, and henceforth "Antares" began to be equipped with another Russian engine-RD-181 NPO "Energomash". This is an export version of the RD-191 developed for the Angara-1 launch vehicle. The decision of the Americans is explained by the desire to completely shift the care of the inevitable revision of the power plant during operation to its supplier, and here Energomash offered the best conditions. Whereas in the late nineties, NK-33s were sold for 1 million, the 2014 contract for 20 RD-181 is estimated at $ 224.5 million. Such a big difference is explained by the fact that the Samara engines came from the warehouse and required improvements, and the new Khimki engines came completely ready, and even with a service package.
At the same time, the deconserved and modified NK-33 demonstrated their efficiency, and they decided to use them in the interests of the domestic space program. The idea arose to use the NK-33-1 variant (NK-33A) as the first stage engine of the Soyuz-2.1 v launch vehicle. The project was launched ten years ago to replace the Ukrainian "Dnepr" and obsolete domestic carriers of this class.
The Soyuz-2 Stage 1B launch vehicle is a two-stage launch vehicle for launching from existing launch complexes of Soyuz-type missiles. It is being developed on the basis of the Soyuz-2 stage 1B launch vehicle with the removal of the side blocks and installation on the central block of the NK-33A engine. This is the only modification of the growing family of "Unions" where the NK-33, which has more than twice the thrust compared to the standard RD-108A, has found use. The launch weight is 160 tons, and the payload put into low Earth orbit is about 2800 kg. The developer is JSC " RCC Progress "(Samara).
The first launch of Soyuz-2.1 v took place on December 28, 2013, and the fifth, which will be completed as part of the LKI, took place on July 10, 2019. The sixth launch four months later was the first commercial launch. "Last year the program of flight tests (LCI) "Soyuz-2.1 b" version with engine NK-33A and started routine operation of a product on a payload into orbit," – says Alexey Sobolev.
At the same time, the interlocutor of "HBO" does not consider it necessary to buy out previously delivered engines in the United States. "The remaining reserve for NK-33 closes for the next decade all the need that is indicated by the main customer," Sobolev believes. According to the information on the website of UEC-Kuznetsov, the supply of NK-33A through the State Defense Ministry is provided until 2023. "If there is such a need, we are ready to consider various scenarios, including the resumption of construction. It all depends on the position of the customer, " Sobolev explained.
Meanwhile, friends-competitors believe otherwise: in April 2013, Vladimir Solntsev from NPO Energomash said that production of the NK-33 will not be resumed, and when the stock is exhausted, a new RD-193 engine will be installed instead. The size of the NC-33 reserve that can be reasonably de-conserved is not known for sure. However, it is safe to say that while maintaining the intensity of launches of domestic light-class missiles, it will last for at least 10-15 years. If so, why does the country need RD-193? Putting it on the Soyuz-2.1 v will require additional tests of the rocket in addition to the already completed LKI. The new modification will be more expensive due to the need to recoup R & D costs, and it will not bring an increase in load capacity. The same can be said about the "Angara" with RD-191: it is more expensive and not much better than the "Soyuz", whose technologies have been tested by long-term operation.
A look from the height of history shows the ongoing confrontation between the two directions in the development of Russian cosmonautics, which began during the lunar program. Between the creators of the N-1 rocket, led by Korolev and a group of engine builders with Glushko, a dispute broke out over the fuel for its power plant. Sergey Pavlovich insisted on a pair of "kerosene TS-1 + liquid oxygen", and Valentin Petrovich objected. As a result, the development of engines was entrusted to Kuznetsov, and he coped with the task. Under his leadership, the NK-15 was created in Samara, and then-the improved NK-33. After the death of Korolev on January 14, 1966, Mishin continued his work, but due to unsuccessful launches in May 1974, Glushko was appointed general designer of the Soviet space program and head of NPO Energia. With his first order, he stopped all work on the N-1, and then gradually pushed Kuznetsov away from the development of rocket engines. All that Nikolai Dmitrievich could do was to defend the production reserve for NK-33.
Vladimir Karnozov
Vladimir Aleksandrovich Karnozov is a military analyst.