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Russia's UEC to use 3D printing for NK-3 engine of Voronezh ultra-light rocket
Russia's United Engine Corporation will use 3D printing to develop the NK-3 rocket engine for the Voronezh ultra-light carrier rocket, scheduled for a 2029 first launch, according to TASS.
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Russia's United Engine Corporation (UEC), part of Rostec, will use 3D printing technologies in the development of the NK-3 engine for the Voronezh ultra-light carrier rocket, the company told TASS in April 2025. The NK-3 engine will produce 5 tonnes of thrust and will run on environmentally friendly fuel with variable thrust capabilities.
The first stage of the Voronezh rocket will use 12 NK-3 engines, and the second stage will use one engine, UEC said. Some components will inherit technology from the RD-107 engines, while other components are being developed from scratch, according to Mikhail Remizov, UEC Deputy General Director for strategy and project management.
Coverage comparison
Both TASS reports, dated April 8 and April 9, 2025, describe the project consistently. The April 8 report, citing the Skolkovo Foundation press service, says the rocket is 20 meters long and 2 meters in diameter, runs on liquid fuel and can place up to 400 kg of cargo into a 500-km orbit. The launch of the light-class carrier is planned for 2029, the same date indicated in the April 9 report. The latter adds that the first stage of the Voronezh will have 12 NK-3 engines and the second stage will use one.
Key claims
The UEC press service is developing the NK-3 engine with a thrust of 5 tonnes for an ultra-light launch vehicle, using environmentally friendly fuel and a thrust vector control system.
Components and assemblies of various designs will be created using additive technologies (3D printing) to speed up the creation and testing of components, said UEC.
The first stage of the Voronezh rocket will use 12 NK-3 engines, the second stage will use one engine.
Remizov stated that some NK-3 components are borrowed from the RD-107 engine, with other components being developed from scratch.
According to Nikolai Dzis-Voinarsky, general director of 3D (Skolkovo), the main task of ultra-light missiles is to replace the retiring satellites in satellite constellations.
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimThe launch of the ultra-light Voronezh carrier rocket is planned for 2029. The rocket is 20 meters long and 2 meters in diameter, and runs on liquid fuel.