RD33

The RD-33 is a Russian air-breathing, low-bypass, afterburning turbofan engine developed by the Klimov design bureau for the Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter aircraft. Entering service in the 1980s, it became the standard powerplant for the MiG-29 family and has been used in several upgraded variants to improve performance and reliability.

Design and features of the RD-33 center on its two-spool, axial-flow architecture with an afterburner and a convergent-divergent nozzle. The engine provides high thrust for rapid acceleration and strong climb capability, and later variants incorporated improvements in controls, durability, and maintainability. In its later forms, the RD-33 benefited from electronic or digital engine control elements to enhance efficiency and response.

Performance characteristics are typically cited as a dry (non-afterburning) thrust of roughly 80 to 90 kilonewtons, with afterburning thrust around 115 to 120 kilonewtons. Specific fuel consumption and exact figures vary with version and operating conditions. The RD-33 has powered a wide range of MiG-29 configurations, including aircraft upgrades and export variants, and it has seen continuous development to extend life and reliability.

Variants include the RD-33MK, used on MiG-29K and naval versions, and the RD-33OVT, which features thrust-vectoring nozzles for enhanced maneuverability. Export and upgrade programs have produced several derivative and improved models intended to meet evolving performance and maintenance requirements.

Operationally, the RD-33 has been deployed on MiG-29 aircraft in multiple air forces around the world and has formed the core of several modernization programs. It remains associated with the MiG-29 platform as a key propulsion option in various generations of the aircraft.