Lavochkin
NPO Lavochkin (OKB-301, also called Lavochkin Research and Production Association or shortly Lavochkin Association, LA) is a Russian aerospace company. It is a major player in the Russian space program, being the developer and manufacturer of the Fregat upper stage, as well as interplanetary probes such as Fobos-Grunt. Currently it is headed by Victor Khartov.[1]
Overview
The company develops and manufactures spacecraft such as the Fregat and Ikar rocket upper stages, satellites and interplanetary probes. It is a contractor for a number of military programs, such as the Oko early warning satellite, Prognoz and Araks programmes as well as the civilian program Kupon. The company's most notable project at the moment is the Phobos Grunt sample return mission to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars.[1] NPO Lavochkin has also developed the Elektro–L series of new-generation weather satellites, as well as the Navigator standardised satellite platform, which will serve as the basis for several future Russian satellites.[2]
History
The company was founded in 1937 as the OKB-301 was a Soviet aircraft design bureau (OKB), now defunct. The head designer was Vladimir P. Gorbunov. On October, 1945 Semyon Lavochkin was promoted for the head designer of the design bureau. It gained distinction for its family of piston-engined fighter aircraft during World War II, and later shifted to missile and jet fighter designs. The bureau was reorganized in 1960 after its head designer's death and named after him as the NPO Lavochkin. Later, it turned to work on interplanetary probe designs for Luna sample return program, the Lunokhod program, Vega program, Phobos program etc.
Aircraft
Rockets and Missiles
Surface-to-Air Missiles
Spacecraft
See also
References
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