Pentagon Admits That It Is Dependent On Russian Rocket Engines

An Atlas 5 ULA (United Launch Alliance) rocket (Reuters / Gene Blevins)

Pentagon Says It Cannot Replace Imported Russian Rocket Engines -- RT

The Pentagon cannot find a replacement for the Russian rocket engines it buys anytime soon, a senior official has revealed. The import of the engines has for now been banned via a court order lobbied by SpaceX and based on sanctions against Russia.

Washington may soon find it problematic to continue launching its military satellites, as a long-time supply connection between Russian and US defense companies has been halted and is being reviewed – all because of sanctions against Moscow in connection with the Ukrainian crisis.

Earlier ordered by US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, the review of US Air Force dependence on the Russian-made RD-180 engine, used in American Atlas V rockets, has not yielded any solutions.

“We don’t have a great solution. We haven’t made any decisions yet,” Frank Kendall, the US undersecretary of defense for acquisition, was quoted as saying by Bloomberg in a Thursday article. The defense official spoke to the outlet after testifying before a Senate committee on the matter on Wednesday.

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More News On The Battle Over The Pentagon Use Of Russia's Rocket Engines

Replacing Russian Rocket Engine Isn’t Easy, Pentagon Says -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Sanctions on Russia Block New U.S. Deals to Purchase Rocket Engines -- WSJ
SpaceX accuses its rivals of violating Russia sanctions. Now a federal court agrees. -- Washington Post
Elon Musk halts deal between US Air Force and Russian rocket-makers -- RT
Space X lawsuit grounds Russian rocket engine buys -- Washington Times
Judge halts Air Force purchase of Russian engines -- Air Force Times
Court Bars ULA from Buying Russian-made Engines for Atlas 5 -- Space News
U.S. Court Issues Injunction Prohibiting Russian Rocket Engine Purchases -- Moscow Times
Lawmakers seek end to U.S. reliance on Russian rocket engine -- Reuters
U.S. Congress Moves to End Dependence on Russian Rocket Engines -- Moscow Times
Why I Feel Bad for the United Launch Alliance (Sort Of) -- Popular Mechanics