Russia supplied the first two US rocket engine RD-181 – Look

In the framework of previously concluded Russian-American contract in the United States were delivered the first two rocket engine RD-181 booster Antares, reported the press-center of the Rocket and Space Corporation “Energia».

«July 15 the first two RD-181 shipped from Russia and 16 July taken to the United States,” – sends a message TASS press center of the Rocket and Space Corporation “Energia”.

It was originally planned that the engines will put the customer in June, but the delivery time has shifted for one month. Russia plans to put the US two RD-181 before the end of this year and four – in the next year.

Recall that in late June, the media reported that the Pentagon has signed a contract for the supply of Russian rocket engines at a higher price, but the US defense ministry denied this information.

The contract for the supply of engines was signed in January 2015. Agreement includes restrictions on the use of RD-181 in military programs.

60 Russian engines will cost the customer about $ 1 billion, the price includes flight training, the installation of the engine on the rocket and testing.

The first start of the American missile Antares with Russian engines RD-181 is scheduled for March 1, 2016. Previously, these missiles were completed engines AJ-26, made on the basis of Soviet NK-33.

US can not stop buying Russian rocket engines for the next 10-15 years, said in July the chief of the Department of Communication and Information of the state corporation Vasily Rostec brow.

RD-180 used in the first stage of the American rocket Atlas, and the US industry is not producing counterparts. With these engines joint venture of the two largest arms manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Boeing called ULA competes with the private company SpaceX, which intends to develop its own engine.

Recall December 20, 2014, President Barack Obama announced that he had signed the defense budget for 2015 fiscal year the volume of the order of 577 billion dollars.

The Act contains an amendment Sen. John McCain, prohibits the further purchase of Russian RD-180 engines. This law provides that the agency can use the RD-180 after 2019 only if these engines were acquired before the reunification of the Crimea with Russia.

At the end of April this year, the Pentagon has asked Congress to allow the use of RD-180 up to 2022.

At the end of May, the American company United Launch Alliance LLC (ULA) said that the restrictions imposed by the US Congress related to the ban on the use of Russian RD-180 engines for the new contracts for government launches, could threaten national security country.