The production of Russian NK-32 engines, considered the world's most powerful power units for combat aircraft, will increase, TASS reports, referring to the statement of UEC-kUznetsov.
"Expanding the capacity of test stands, including through the modernization of the fuel supply system, is one of the priority production tasks. Work is underway to conclude contracts. In the future, the entire operating fleet of the corresponding aircraft will be re-motorized," said Alexey Sobolev, Managing Director of the enterprise. UEC-kUznetsov clarified that the company is currently building and modernizing 22 facilities.
In December 2020, the first flight of the Russian Tu-160M strategic bomber with a new NK-32-02 dual-circuit three-shaft turbojet engine was included in the rating of world achievements of the year in the field of engine construction, presented by the authoritative American magazine Aviation Week & Space Technology.
In November of the same year, in the material of The Drive edition, the new NK-32-02 serial engines for the Tu-160M were recognized as the world's most powerful power units for combat aircraft. The publication noted that the NK-32-02 develops more than 55 thousand pounds of thrust at full afterburner. According to The Drive, this engine will increase the range of the Tu-160M by a thousand kilometers. "The lack of engines was a serious obstacle to Moscow's ambitious plans to resume production of the Tu-160, which was initially stopped in 1994," the publication recalled.
The Tu-160M with the new NK-32-02 took off for the first time in November 2020. The upgraded rocket-bomber took to the skies for the first time in February last year.
Ivan Potapov
