Work is currently underway to increase the engine’s service life, the chief designer said. Pursuant to the practice accepted for any gas turbine engine, the initial service life is defined following the results of the trials. After that, work continues to extend the engine’s life. We are planning to increase the engine’s service life four-fold compared to current figures, Chupin said.
Pursuant to the existing plans, the NK-12MP engines will be upgraded to the NK-12MPM level during major repairs provided that there is a relevant order placed by Russia’s Defense Ministry, he added. From the viewpoint of production, I believe that the enterprise is ready for that, he stressed.