P&W to market Russian firm's propulsion products in U.S

Defense Daily, Oct 27, 1992

Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Government Engines and Space Propulsion has reached an agreement with Russia's NPO Energomash that could eventually lead to the manufacture of engines designed by the Russian firm in the United States.

The accord, signed by representatives of both companies yesterday at the National Press Club, makes P&W the exclusive representative to market NPO Energomash's propulsion products in the U.S.

"The initial thrust of our agreement is to provide existing components and technology to programs that...do exist or could exist in the future," said Robert Wolfe, executive vice president of P&W Government Engines and Space Propulsion. "This could lead, however, to a license agreement to manufacture the RD-170 or [a] similar engine in the United States."

NPO Energomash is best known for its advanced space liquid propulsion systems, particularly the RD-170, a bi-propellant engine capable of generating 1.8 million pounds of thrust. The RD-170 was used as a strap on during the two test flights of Energia, the world's most powerful booster. It also powers the first stage of the Zenit rocket.

[The Zenit has had a checkered past, although Russian officials yesterday denied that the design of the RD-170 engine was the culprit in the first of three reported mishaps involving the rocket. The next scheduled Zenit launch is slated for November 3.]

Financial details of the agreement, including market potential and cost sharing, were not disclosed. "We are looking at a wide range of space propulsion capabilities useful to the U.S. space program, including bi-propellant engines such as the RD-170, tri-propellant and associated propulsion technologies and products," Wolfe said. "The fact that many of these technologies are state-of-the-art and have already been developed means there is potential for great program cost savings."

Near term applications for the Russian technology include components for existing U.S. launch vehicles or perhaps the full RD-170 configuration as a strap-on for a future heavy lift vehicle, according to Wolfe.

He termed the RD-170 "extremely complementary" with the Space Transportation Main Engine (STME) under development for the proposed National Launch System (NLS), but added that the companies are not "counting on NLS per se."

Air Force funding for the joint NLS program was recently terminated by Congress, although NASA retained $10 million for STME development. "This country will develop a heavy lift vehicle in the future--either a new vehicle or a derived vehicle...both for military and possible commercial applications," Wolfe said.

Asked what the Russians are getting out of the deal, Boris Katorgin, general director and designer for NPO Energomash, said his company lacks the resources to do what is necessary to break into the U.S. marketplace. "We as beginning businessmen can only hope that we will win the largest share of this marketplace as possible and we'd like to do it with...Pratt & Whitney," he said. Katorgin also said NPO Energomash has an extensive inventory of engines for all interested buyers.

RD-701 Being Tested For Space Plane

Another Energomash product, a tri-propellant rocket engine called RD-701, is being tested for use on a space plane design conceived by Gleb Lozino-Lozinski, the designer of the Russian space shuttle and the chief of the Molniya design bureau, according to Katorgin. "Only this engine has the capacity and efficiency to fly this plane," he added.

Under a proposal by British Aerospace, the IIotol space plane would serve as the plane and be carried aloft on the back of the Antonov-225 aircraft; after achieving a specified height the Hotol would be launched. The plane envisioned by Lozino-Lozinski would operate in a similar manner.

The two-mode RD-701 engine, which Katorgin said through a translator is being tested, will provide a one-stage-to-orbit capability. The first mode would produce 900,000 pounds of thrust, and 357,000 pounds would come from the second mode.

The Lozino-Lozinski space plane program, like many Others in Russia, is experiencing funding problems, Katorgin said, adding that private funds might need to be tapped to insure survival of the venture.