US government approves purchase of Russian RD-181M rocket engines – Roscosmos

The US government has approved the purchase of Russian RD-181M rocket engines. About it reported head of the press service of Roscosmos Vladimir Ustimenko.

“The US government has approved the conclusion of a contract between NPO Energomash and the American company Orbital Science LLC. This means that there will be new deliveries of engines, ”Ustimenko said.

The day before, the state corporation reported that the new RD-181M engine is an upgraded version of the RD-181. Roscosmos stressed that negotiations between Russia and the United States on the conclusion of a contract will allow the continuation of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the field of rocket propulsion, despite the sanctions.

Earlier, on the official portal of legal information, a government order was published on the approval of negotiations between NPO Energomash and the American company Orbital Science LLS. According to the document, the conclusion of a contract is possible in the event of a settlement between Roscosmos and the RF Ministry of Defense of issues related to the use of the results of intellectual activity in the development of the engine, the development of measures for the protection of Russian technologies agreed with the American company. In addition, in order to conclude the contract, guarantees from the American side were needed, according to which carrier rockets with Russian engines would not be used to launch military payloads.

Last year it was reported that Energomash plans to transfer at least ten RD-180 / RD-181 rocket engines to the United States in 2021. These engines are used by the United Launch Alliance in the Atlas-5 launch vehicle. Another American company, Orbital ATK, supplies RD-181 engines. They are used in Antares rockets, which are used to send Cygnus cargo ships to the International Space Station.

The US Congress has repeatedly called on the US Air Force to stop using them in recent years. However, according to the recognition of the congressmen, it will hardly be possible to replace the Russian rocket engines until 2024.