MOSCOW. Nov 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia is discussing the delivery of RD-180 rocket engines to China, as well as the design of a new rocket engine for China, Roscosmos deputy head Sergei Savelyev said at a meeting of the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee.
"We are discussing the delivery of finished products above all. The second option would be issuing production licenses," Savelyev said in response to a question about the transfer of RD-180 engine-production technology to China.
Russia does not plan to share RD-180 production technology with China for now, as "we are perfectly aware of China's ability to copy technology and present it as Chinese," Savelyev said. "For now, they prioritize the design of an engine for their needs by our specialists using their technical requirements," he said.
A member of the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee, Olga Kovitidi, proposed at the meeting that the Russia-China intergovernmental agreement on the protection of space-exploration technology for peaceful purposes and the design and operation of launch vehicles and ground space infrastructure be approved.
"China is interested in the delivery of RD-180 [engines] for its rocket industry. We are also interested in this kind of cooperation, because we want to develop space micro-electronics. We, the Federation Council Defense and Security Committee, are interested in the rocket and space cooperation envisaged in this agreement, which includes the design and operation of launch vehicles and ground space infrastructure," Kovitidi said.
The committee approved the agreement and proposed that the Federation Council ratify it.