Kuznetsov NK-32
Encyclopedia
The Kuznetsov NK-32 is a military specification afterburning 3-spool low bypass turbofan
jet engine
which powers the Tupolev Tu-160
supersonic bomber, and was fitted to the later model Tupolev Tu-144
LL supersonic transport
. It is the largest and most powerful engine ever fitted on a combat aircraft (however, higher thrust engines are fitted to civil aircraft such as General Electric GE90
. Such engines sacrifice exhaust speed for higher thrust and hence cannot accelerate to supersonic speeds).
It produces 55,000 lbf (245 kN) of thrust in maximum afterburner.
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
jet engine
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
which powers the Tupolev Tu-160
Tupolev Tu-160
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Although several civil and military transport aircraft are larger in overall dimensions, the Tu-160 is currently the world's largest combat aircraft, largest...
supersonic bomber, and was fitted to the later model Tupolev Tu-144
Tupolev Tu-144
The Tupolev Tu-144 was a Soviet supersonic transport aircraft and remains one of only two SSTs to enter commercial service, the other being the Concorde...
LL supersonic transport
Supersonic transport
A supersonic transport is a civilian supersonic aircraft designed to transport passengers at speeds greater than the speed of sound. The only SSTs to see regular service to date have been Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. The last passenger flight of the Tu-144 was in June 1978 with its last ever...
. It is the largest and most powerful engine ever fitted on a combat aircraft (however, higher thrust engines are fitted to civil aircraft such as General Electric GE90
General Electric GE90
General Electric GE90 is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines built by GE Aviation for the Boeing 777, with thrust ratings ranging from 74,000 to 115,000 lbf . It was first introduced in November 1995 on British Airways' 777s, and is available only on the 777...
. Such engines sacrifice exhaust speed for higher thrust and hence cannot accelerate to supersonic speeds).
It produces 55,000 lbf (245 kN) of thrust in maximum afterburner.
- Cruise thrust: 14 000 kgf (31,000 lbf, 137 kN)
- Afterburning thrust: 25 000 kgf (55,000 lbf, 245 kN)
- Specific fuel consumption: (supersonic) 1.70 kg/kgf/hour
- Specific fuel consumption (subsonic): 0.72-0.73 kg/kgf/hour
- Bypass ratio: 1.4
- OPROverall pressure ratioIn aeronautical engineering, the term overall pressure ratio is defined as the ratio of the stagnation pressure as measured at the front and rear of the compressor of a gas turbine engine...
: 28.4 - Length: 6000 mm (19.7 ft)
- Diameter: 1460 mm (4.8 ft)
- Dry mass: 3400 kilogram