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| R-15 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tumansky R-15BD-300 turbojet engine on display at the Estonian Aviation Museum | |
| Type | turbojet |
| Manufacturer | Salyut Machine-Building Association |
| Major applications | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Tupolev Tu-123 |
TheTumansky R-15 is an axial-flow, single-shaftturbojet with anafterburner. Its best known use is on theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25.
The R-15-300 was designed at the OKB-300 design bureau led bySergei Tumansky in the late 1950s. The engine was originally intended for theTupolev Tu-121 high-altitude high-speedcruise missile. Due to a lack ofSoviet resources and funding, the engine casing was mainlysteel, and in areas exposed to high temperatures, 30-micrometresilver-plated steel. At the time, theUSSR did not have the resources to exploit metals such astitanium or other alloys that could have reduced the weight of the engine. The Tu-121 was later canceled, but its basic design was used in theTupolev Tu-123 reconnaissance drone.
The maximum thrust was 7,500 kilograms force (73.5 kN, 16,500 lbf) dry and 11,200 kilograms force (110 kN, 24,700 lbf) withafterburner. This thrust enabled theMikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25, with two engines, to reachMach 3.2, although the engines had to be scrapped after a flight to Mach 3.2. The engine had a very high fuel consumption, especially at low altitudes.[citation needed]
Data from[2]
