“Energomash” 2017 will supply engines for missiles Antares – Moskovsky Komsomolets

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The American company Orbital Sciences, which produces launchers Antares, which crashed at the start of October 28 to change the supplier of the main engines products, writes “Izvestia».

Orbital held a tender among manufacturers of engines for vehicles, which will be released in 2017, and won a victory in its RD-193 NGOs Khimki “Energomash”, said the publication of the source in the Russian Space Agency.

Currently, the parties shall agree on the format of the competition results are announced. Also, decision-makers in Orbital, are consulting on guarantees supply of these engines in the current context.

Currently Antares completed AJ-26 engines, made on the basis of Soviet NK-33, preserved from the times of the manned lunar unfinished program. Then were mothballed several dozen copies. The first batch of engines came to the US in the mid-1990s, Aerojet bought them for $ 1 million apiece. Revised appeared modified engine AJ-26.

In 2013, Orbital has been negotiating with the United Engine Corporation (UEC), the controlling of “Kuznetsov” to resume serial deliveries NK-33. According to the Executive Director of “Kuznetsov” Nicholas Yakushina, hand out on the signing of a firm contract.

In late 2013 Orbital Sciences has decided to organize a tender in which vied “Kuznetsov” and “Energomash».

«The competition has almost taken place, the outcome is not yet announced, although we – Alliance Aerojet and” Kuznetsov “- according to our information, the project has to consider,” – said Jakushin, adding that contacts with the United States remain force.

At the end of the 1990s, the NGO “Energomash” won the contract to supply the US entitling United Launch Alliance (ULA, a joint company Lockheed Martin and Boeing) RD-180 engines for missiles Atlas.

The explosion Antares space truck with Cygnus occurred on October 29 at 01:23 MSK during launch from the Baikonur NASA Wallops Island, off the coast of Virginia. Cygnus ship was supposed to deliver to the ISS more than 2 tons of food and other goods. On the supply of the Russian segment of the station explosion Antares not affected.