[2] The core of the NK-93 was to form the foundation of a family of direct-drive turbofans and geared propfans, ranging from 11,000 to 22,000 kilograms-force (24,000 to 49,000 pounds-force; 110 to 220 kilonewtons) in thrust.

[13] Due to the breakup of the Soviet Union, though, the schedule was repeatedly delayed because of severe funding shortages[14] and other issues.

[23] When the NK-93 was displayed on the Il-76LL demonstrator at the 2007 MAKS air show, Chinese aircraft manufacturers reportedly made a "tempting offer" to buy all of the NK-93's blueprints and documentation.

[24] In October 2013, the European Commission gave a three-and-a-half-year grant to study the Innovative Counter rOtating fan system for high Bypass Ratio Aircraft engine (COBRA).

COBRA was a European Union-Russia cooperative program to study an ultra-high bypass ratio (UHBR) counter-rotating turbofan (CRTF) that was similar to the NK-93.

Participating organizations included Kuznetsov, CIAM, Russian propeller manufacturer Aerosila, French engine maker Safran (Snecma), the French aerospace laboratory (ONERA), and the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

[6] The front and back fans are both variable-pitch propellers; by 1993, the coaxial fans could combine to produce 85% of the desired 4,000 kgf (8,800 lbf; 39 kN) maximum reverse thrust,[27] and by 1995, the reverse thrust capability was 3,800 kgf (8,300 lbf; 37 kN).