Ukraine offers joint production of rocket engines with US to replace Russian models Thursday, June 2, 2016 2:25:00 PM

Ukraine has proposed a joint development and production of a rocket engine designed to replace Russian models that are currently used for the launch of U.S. military satellites, Radio Svoboda reported.

On the 31st of May, the Head of the State Space Agency of Ukraine, Luybomyr Sabadosh stated that he proposed a plan to replace Russian RD-180 rocket engines during his visit to the U.S.A. Congress decided to stop using RD-180 engines until 2019.

“This is a challenging task but we can handle it,” Sabadosh said. He noted that the U.S. expressed interest in this idea and that further negotiations will take place in November in Kiev.

Congress instructed U.S. servicemen to find an alternative to Russian rocket engines after relations between Russia and the United States deteriorated sharply in 2014 because of the annexation of Crimea and Moscow’s role in the armed conflict in the Donbas.

The Pentagon stated that U.S. private contractors need time and incentives for the development of alternative options. Attempts to immediately replace Russian rocket engines will require significant resources.

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