The Samara plant "ODK-Kuznetsov" is developing a new liquid-propellant rocket engine NK-3 for the ultralight launch vehicle "Voronezh". The first stage of the rocket will be equipped with 12 such engines, each with a thrust of 4.5 tons. The second stage will be equipped with one NK-3 with a high-altitude nozzle.
The developers used the groundwork of the RD-107A engine's steering unit, which is used on the "Soyuz" family of rockets, as the basis for the combustion chamber.
The remaining main components of the NK-3 are being created from scratch. This includes plans to use 3D printing for heat-resistant parts: the gas generator and elements of the turbopump unit are intended to be manufactured using additive methods.
Currently, there are no serially produced ultralight class engines and launch vehicles in Russia. Designers are designing oxidizer and fuel pumps, a turbine, a gas generator, automation units, and launch systems from scratch.
The second stage will have the capability of two-time launch, and some engines will be equipped with a thrust vector control system. This will allow correcting the trajectory of the launch vehicle when deploying small satellites.
A full-size mock-up of the NK-3 will be shown for the first time at the "Technoprom" forum in Novosibirsk. Currently, developers are carrying out working design and preparing units for autonomous and fire tests.
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