New Engines To Allow Russian Tu-95 Bombers To Increase Range, Cargo Capacity - Rostec

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd August, 2018) Russian state corporation Rostec said on Thursday that it was working on its most powerful turboprop engine, the NK-12, for the Tu-95 large strategic bomber that would allow the aircraft to increase its flight range and cargo capacity.

"Due to the new upgraded power unit, the airplane, called the Winged Bear for its speed and striking power, has significantly increased its flight and technical characteristics, including its flying range," the corporation said in a press release.

The Tu-95MC aircraft, already equipped with the new engines, are currently being tested by the Russian Defense Ministry.

Sergey Abramov, the conventional armament, ammunition and special chemistry cluster industrial director at Rostec, called the creation of the new engines another step in the large-scale technical modernization of the Russian army.

"The level of our projects in the area of turboprop engines remains unachievable for foreign competitors," Abramov said in the press release.

The NK-12MPM engine, designed by the Kuznetsov enterprise, which is part of Rostec, is a modification of the worlds most powerful NK-12MP turboprop engine, which generates about 15,000 horsepower.