At the end of 2021, Proton-PM (part of NPO Energomash integrated structure of Roscosmos) signed a contract with NPO Energomash to supply five prototypes of the RD-191M engine. The products are intended for flight and development testing of the Angara-A5M heavy launch vehicle at the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Angara-A5 is created within the Amur experimental development work. Energomash began development of the RD-191M in early 2021 after signing a contract to deliver three engines for ground testing.

Igor Arbuzov, NPO Energomash Director General: ‘Already in 2022 NPO Energomash is planning fire tests of the first RD-191M engine. This proves that today a most effective cooperation was formed between the enterprises of the integrated structure to develop RD-191M, enabling to reduce the time and cost of development and production of this rocket engine.

Ivan Krasnov, Proton-PM Director: ‘The RD-191M flight units production is to be organized in 2022-2023, in parallel with production and delivery of ground test engines to NPO Energomash. Thus, we are organizing an advanced production launch, allowing us to increase the quality of planning, as well as to speed up the mastering of the new products and their introduction into the market. The flight test engines will be shipped to NPO Energomash only after the engine has completed its autonomous testing.

Proton-PM acts as the serial manufacturer of the first stage engines for the Angara space rocket complex. NPO Energomash acts as the customer, the developer of RD-191 and RD-191M, boosted by 10% in thrust. Organizing production of the Angara rocket engine and other advanced liquid-propellant rocket engines at the facility in Perm is a priority regional investment project implemented in accordance with the agreement between the Roscosmos and the Perm Territory.