RD-250: Difference between revisions

The '''RD-250''' ([[GRAU]] Index '''8D518''') is the base version of a dual-nozzle family of [[liquid-fuel rocket|liquid]] [[rocket engine|rocket engines]]s, burning [[Dinitrogen tetroxide|N₂O₄]] and [[Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine|UDMH]] in the [[Staged combustion cycle (rocket)|oxidizer rich staged combustion]] cycle. The RD-250 was developed by [[NPO Energomash|OKB-456]] for [[Mikhail Yangel|Yangel]]'s [[Yuzhmash|PA Yuzhmash]] [[ICBM]], the [[R-36 (missile)]] (8K67). Its variations were also used on the [[Tsyklon-2]] and [[Tsyklon-3]] launch vehicles. It was supposed to be used on the [[Tsyklon-4]], but since the cancellation of the project it should be considered as out of production.

Several experts think that technology from the RD-250 engine could have been transferred to North Korea (from Ukraine). This transfer would explain the rapid progress of North Korea in the development of two new missiles: the [[Intermediate-range ballistic missile|intermediate-range]] [[Hwasong-12]] and the [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] (ICBM), [[Hwasong-14]]. Due to complexity of the technology involved in this type of engine, modifications or reverse engineering seem difficult to achieve. Thus it's believable that complete hardware could have been bought on black market and directly shipped to North Korea, by Russia or Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iiss.org/en/iiss%20voices/blogsections/iiss-voices-2017-adeb/august-2b48/north-korea-icbm-success-3abb|title=The secret to North Korea’s ICBM success|website=www.iiss.org|language=en|access-date=2017-08-15}}</ref>. Conversely, there is analysis<ref name=”2017"2017-09-12_AC”12_AC">[http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/north-korean-missile-engines-not-from-ukraine North Korean Missile Engines: Not from Ukraine], Mariana Budjeryn & Andrew Zhalko-Tytarenko, [[Atlantic Council]], 2017-09-12</ref> suggesting an alternative mechanism for North Korea to receive [[R-36 (missile)]] engines, or an entire missile, from Russia (USSR).