At the end of February, the European Union imposed the tenth package of sanctions against the Russian Federation, including the Khrunichev Center (part of Roscosmos), which produces Proton-M, Angara launch vehicles, Briz-M upper stages and other products in the interests of the Russian space industry.. In an interview with TASS, the general director of the company Alexey Brewho told about how cooperation with foreign companies is taking place in the current conditions, including through the ISS, about the possibility of manufacturing products in the interests of the domestic aviation industry and about flight tests of the Angara launch vehicles.
— The Khrunichev Center was included in the tenth EU sanctions list. Did it somehow affect the work of the enterprise? How?— Restrictions aimed at the international space activities of the Russian Federation began long before the tenth package of EU sanctions appeared.
In May 2019, amendments were issued to the US Law on Appropriations for National Defense, which limited the use of launch services of Russian launch vehicles on the international commercial market. Further developments in the world have clearly shown that the US policy in the field of peaceful space aims to remove competitors from the market to American launch service providers, in particular SpaceX, which currently occupies 30% of the market for all launches in the world. On February 25, 2022, the EU, by its declaration 2022/380, adopted a package of sanctions that banned business transactions with enterprises of the aviation and space industry of the Russian Federation.
The tenth EU sanctions package included the Khrunichev Center in the list of sanctioned companies, which, in principle, did not change anything. The main restrictions were already imposed against our entire industry a year ago. Probably, one of our foreign partners may be afraid of the emergence of so-called secondary sanctions from the EU countries because of business ties with us. But we are not afraid of this, since the Khrunichev Center produces space technology without the use of foreign components. Neither the Proton-M launch vehicle, nor the Angara family of launch vehicles, nor the upper stages of our production have foreign components. Our foreign partners are more interested in us, in our missiles and services, than we are in them. There is a shortage of launch capacities on the market, especially with the advent of low-orbit satellite groupings. SpaceX, in my opinion, will not be able to serve the market alone while maintaining an acceptable price level. The market needs starting capacities. This affects the growth of prices for launch services. Therefore, they simply "shoot themselves in the foot" with such sanctions. Let me note that the United States did not include the Khrunichev Center in such lists. Probably due to a deeper understanding of the market than the Europeans.
— Is the work of your ILS subsidiary in the USA continuing now? What difficulties are you facing, given the sanctions imposed on the Russian space industry?— Yes, the ILS company is working.
The share of GKNPC in it is 83%, the remaining 17% belong to RSC Energia. During the period of sanctions, we managed to reduce the company's costs to the most optimal level so that the company could carry out its activities without sources of new financial resources. The company is currently working on a number of settlement agreements with our current customers of launch services on Proton-M and Angara launch vehicles.
— Has it been possible to conclude a new contract with Boeing for the maintenance of ground-based bench products and control and verification equipment to accompany the flight of the Zarya module? How is the interaction with the company going now, given its departure from the Russian Federation?— Work with Boeing is carried out within the framework of existing contracts to ensure the flight operation of the Zarya FGB module.
There are no restrictions on these works, since the United States has not imposed sanctions under the ISS program. Boeing and the Khrunichev State Research and Development Center clearly and timely fulfill their mutual obligations under this project. In the process of accompanying the flight of the Zarya FGB module, additional work becomes necessary, which requires the conclusion of new and adjustments to already signed contracts. Currently, a new contract with Boeing is in the final stage of approval for the retrofitting of the FGB bench electroanalog with control and verification equipment of a new design.
— Last year it was reported that a Ukrainian company, which supplies components for one of the systems of the Zarya functional cargo unit of the ISS under a contract with Boeing, is experiencing difficulties due to the situation in the country. Was it possible to import components?— Import substitution in part of the equipment supplied by the Ukrainian enterprise is not required.
The interaction scheme has been adjusted so that the financing of this enterprise and contract activities are carried out directly by Boeing. Technical support for Boeing in these works is provided by specialists of the Khrunichev Center. As a result of this interaction scheme, the operation of the FGB system developed by this supplier is carried out in normal mode.
— The Khrunichev Center previously had competence in the construction of aircraft. Under the conditions of sanctions, the issue of the supply of components for imported civilian aircraft is now acute. Is the Khrunichev Center capable of manufacturing parts for them? Have companies contacted you with relevant requests?— Since aviation and rocket engineering are close fields of science and technology, I can assure you that the Khrunichev Center has the competence to manufacture units and assemblies for the aviation industry.
Colleagues from the aviation industry have already contacted us. Moreover, we have started discussing a number of issues, are conducting technological work and determining available capacities for possible further cooperation. Technically, we are able to manufacture elements in the interests of the aviation industry.
— Has the company already managed to break even? With what indicators did you finish last year?— The financial burden of the enterprise for the end of 2022 — the beginning of 2023 is about 9 billion rubles.
The planned repayment period is the end of 2025. The company is able to ensure repayment of the debt on time.
— Has the debt burden been reduced over the past year? For how long?— We did not force the closure of the financial burden at an accelerated pace.
For now, we will focus on the planned repayment of debt.
— In what year is it planned to complete the flight tests of the heavy "Angara"?— The flight test program provides for six launches of Angara-A5 heavy-class launch vehicles as part of flight design tests.
Three successful launches have already taken place in 2014, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The fourth and fifth flight missiles were transferred by the Khrunichev Center to the state customer. The sixth is at the final assembly stage. Further launch dates will be determined by the needs of payload removal.
— South Korea refused to launch a satellite on a light "Angara". Has a payload replacement been found now? Are there any commercial orders for Angara now? Are there many of them? — We have a contract for the launch services of a Korean satellite on the Angara-1.2 rocket of the KARI Institute.
The contract formally continues to operate. In case of termination, the Korean side is obliged to send a corresponding notice of cancellation of the contract. We have already stated that we have not received such a notification. Due to the sanctions, the US license for the Korean satellite was canceled. Therefore, our Korean partners cannot deliver the satellite to Russia for the launch. We were ready to conduct launch services at the end of last year and informed the launch customer about it. However, US restrictions did not allow us to complete the contract with a launch, and we are forced to look for ways out of this situation. Now, together with ILS and the KARI Institute, we are working on settlement options for this project.
To date, there are no commercial orders for the Angara-1.2 light rocket. It is at the stage of flight design tests and does not yet have a flight history to attract customers. In addition, sanctions are affecting, which do not allow customers to use this rocket to launch their vehicles. Despite this, we see the interest that potential customers show in Angara-1.2". And I have no doubt that the Angara light rocket has good prospects.
— This year it was planned to deliver the Angara to Vostochny for the first launch. What condition is it in? When will it be delivered? Has the assembly of the Angara begun for the first launch of the Eagle ship from the East?— The first flight "Angara-A5" for the Vostochny cosmodrome will be delivered to the cosmodrome in 2023.
The timing of the production of the rocket for the launch of the PTC "Eagle" is determined by the PTC "Eagle" test program. The launch of the manned PTK will be preceded by launches of the Angara-A5 and Angara-A5M missiles with the Eagle PTK in the overall mass and unpiloted version. The Khrunichev Center has developed and defended a preliminary design for the adaptation of the Angara-A5 and Angara-A5M missiles to ensure the launch of the Eagle spacecraft.
— In December 2021, the project of a reusable "Angara" was defended, is its preliminary design planned? When can it start?— In 2021, the preliminary design for the creation of the Amur launch vehicle of the second stage with the Angara-A5V carrier rocket, which includes an oxygen-hydrogen third stage, was defended.
Within the framework of this project, the possibility of creating a reusable rocket based on it was considered. Given the current situation, the decision to deploy further work on the creation of a reusable rocket is the prerogative of the state customer. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that its development should be carried out simultaneously with the development of the Angara-A5B high-payload rocket.
— Are they already developing a promising heavy rocket that will be able to replace the Angara in the future? — At present, preliminary design has been completed and design documentation is being developed for a heavy-class launch vehicle with improved energy characteristics, which has received the designation "Angara-A5M".
It will replace the Angara-A5 rocket, and its operation is planned in the future.
— The modules of the promising Russian orbital station will be launched using Angara rockets. Will they need to be finalized for this? Is it already underway?— The upgraded Angara-A5M launch vehicle will be used to launch the ROS modules.
Currently, preliminary design is underway to adapt the rocket to various modules that will be the basic elements of the new Russian orbital station.
— Has the production of components for the oxygen-hydrogen booster unit begun?
— Currently, the Salyut Design Bureau is developing design documentation for the KVTK upper stage. Production is technically being prepared as soon as the design documentation is ready for the production of bench products and prototypes of the KVTC, but the start of production will be given at the direction of the state customer.
— How many Proton launch vehicles are you planning to launch this year?— In 2023, Proton-M launch vehicles with the Electro-L spacecraft No. 4 and the Luch-5X spacecraft have already been launched.
— Has the assembly of the latest Proton launch vehicles been completed? When will it end? Have customers been found for them? — The production of Proton-M launch vehicles is planned, and in accordance with the schedule, we plan to finish the production of products in 2025.
The strategic priority of the enterprise is the manufacture of launch vehicles of the Angara class.
— What fate awaits the Proton rocket if it is not possible to launch all the missiles before the end of their service life in Kazakhstan?— The issue is in the area of agreement between the governments of Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The proposals of the Khrunichev State Scientific Research Center for solving the issue of using all manufactured Proton missiles are under consideration jointly with the Kazakh side.
— Is the assembly of the first sample of the Rokot-M rocket already underway? Is the first launch still planned for 2024?— According to the Rokot-M project, a contract has been concluded with our cooperation on component elements, production of bench products is underway, as well as a number of elements of the first flight rocket with long production times.
— Last year, you announced plans to expand the range of manufactured medical devices, was it possible to do this? In what time frame will you be able to reach the level of diversification of 50%?— Now we are actively recruiting orders to expand the range of manufactured medical products and increase production.
Work is also underway to expand the range of products for the national economy, in the interests of the oil and gas industry, the nuclear industry, aircraft manufacturers and the automotive industry.
