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Klimov RD-33

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RD-33
RD-33 on display at the Luftwaffe Museum
Type Turbofan
Manufacturer Klimov
First run 1974
Major applications Mikoyan MiG-29
Mikoyan MiG-33
Mikoyan MiG-35
Ilyushin Il-102
Dassault Mirage F1
CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder 
J-31.

The Klimov RD-33 is a turbofan jet engine for a lightweight fighter jet that is the primary engine for the Mikoyan MiG-29 and CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder. It was developed in OKB-117 led by S. P. Izotov (now OAO Klimov) from 1968 with production starting in 1981. Previous generations of Russian supersonic fighters such as the MiG-21 and MiG-23 used turbojets, but western fighters such as the F-111 and F-4K introduced the use of afterburning turbofans in the 1960s which were more efficient. The RD-33 was the first afterburning turbofan engine produced by the Klimov company of Russia in the 8,000 to 9,000 kilograms-force (78,000 to 88,000 N; 18,000 to 20,000 lbf) thrust class. It features a modular twin-shaft design with individual parts that can be replaced separately.

Variants

In early 1970s the RD-33 was selected for new light fighter jet, later becoming Mikoyan MiG-29, the other option was Tumansky R-67-300.[1] Years of development has built an extensive engine family. A newly designed thrust vectoring nozzle (TVN) is now available. New models of the RD-33 family include BARK digital monitoring and control systems. Repair and maintenance of RD-33 engines takes advantage of an information and diagnostics system (IDS).

RD-33

Baseline model developed in 1976 to power the MiG-29. Development work started in 1968 at the Klimov Design Bureau, led by Sergey Isotov. The first few engines for the 9.01 MiG-29 prototype were equipped with a longer nozzle, without the double wall design, which is featured on the current RD-33[2][3] and RD-33MK models. This design had an extra controllable section after the critical cross section in the Laval type nozzle. The reason was the control of the jet blast contour at high altitude, low ambient air pressure, where the exhaust gases over expanding after the exhaust section. Right after the first few example and the first few MiG-29 prototype models, this difficult control system was removed, due to the operational altitude limit of the upcoming fighter. The first few series of the basic RD-33 version had some issue with the oil system, where a leakage caused a series of problems for the test pilots, because the oil leakage generated toxic particles in the air conditioning system. After the production line was going, these kinds of teething problems were solved. The only disadvantage was a low service life, and heavy smoke, which was fixed only in the later models.

RD-33B/NB

A model without afterburner for various types of aircraft, such as the Il-102.

RD-93

A variant used to power the JF-17 (FC-1). According to JF-17.com [4] "The most significant difference being the repositioning of the gearbox along the bottom of the engine casing." The Klimov poster at Zhuhai 2010 airshow gave the thrust range of the engine to be 79 kN to 98 kN Wet.[5] This was designed specifically for FC-1 with increased thrust and relocated gearbox compared to base RD-33's. Although the increase of thrust decreased the service life of RD-93 to 2200 hours from RD-33's 4000 hours. According to Air Commodore Mehmood engines are solid and reliable: “We’ve flown 7,000 hours with the engine and we haven’t had any problems”, he said [6]

RD-5000B

A variant used to power the MiG Skat UCAV, 50.4 kN (11,340 lbf) dry thrust .

SMR-95

SMR-95

A model for upgrading international 2nd and 3rd generation jet fighters. The accessory gearbox is repositioned below the engine, length can be varied depending on the adopted aircraft fuselage. The engine passed bench tests and flight tests on the Super Mirage F-1 and Super Cheetah D-2 aircraft of the South African Air Force and had achieved an improvement in flight performance and combat efficiency by a factor ranging from 1.2 to 3.0.[7]

RD-33 series 3

A revised model with a longer service life used on later or upgraded old variants of the MiG-29 such as MiG-29M and MiG-29SMT.[8][9] A pair of RD-33 series 3 engine equipped with TVN is currently undergoing flight tests as a component of the MiG-29OVT jet fighter.[10]

RD-33MK

The RD-33MK "Morskaya Osa" (Russian: Морская Оса: "Sea Wasp") is the latest model developed in 2001. It is intended to power the MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB shipborne fighters, however it has also been adopted for the MiG-35. The RD-33MK develops 7% higher thrust, is digitally controlled FADEC and smokeless unlike earlier RD-33 engines, has increased afterburner thrust to 9,000 kilograms-force (88,000 N; 20,000 lbf) and dry weight 1,145 kilograms (2,524 lb) compared to the baseline model through modern materials used on the cooled blades, although it retains the same length and maximum diameter. Incorporated is an infrared and optical signature visibility reduction systems. Service life has been increased to 4,000 hours. The RD-33MK ensures shipborne fighters unassisted take-off capability, retain performance in hot climate environment and, naturally, a boost in combat efficiency for MiG-29 fighter latest variant.[11][12][13][14]

VK-10M

A max 22000 (98 kN) to 24200 lbf (107.647 kN) with enlarged compressor for thrust RD-33MK enhancement for LMFS and MiG-41 also further programs .

Specifications (RD-33)

Data from Janes Aero Engines, Klimov Website

General characteristics

  • Type: afterburning turbofan
  • Length: 4,229 mm (166.50 in)
  • Diameter: 1,040 mm (40.94 in)
  • Dry weight: 1,055 kg (2,326 lb)

Components

Performance

See also

Comparable engines

Related lists

References

  1. ^ "МиГ МиГ-29 (9–12)". www.airwar.ru. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  2. ^ "RD-33". Rosoboronexport.
  3. ^ "RD-33-family". klimov.ru.
  4. ^ http://www.jf-17.com/engine/
  5. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20180524222821/http://i56.tinypic.com/n3vu4x.jpg
  6. ^ Air international nr.6 december 2013
  7. ^ (in Russian) Klimov :: Production :: Aircraft Program :: SMR-95 Archived 2007-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ (in Russian) Rac Mig Archived July 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ (in Russian) Rac Mig Archived 2007-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ (in Russian) Klimov :: Production :: Aircraft Program :: Trust Vertoring Nozzle Archived 2007-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "RD-33MK". klimov.ru. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12.
  12. ^ "Perspective Projects 2007". klimov.ru. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
  13. ^ "RD-33MK". Rosoboronexport.
  14. ^ "RD-33MK". klimov.ru.
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