MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The Energomash research and production industrial center will supply the United States with three RD-180 engines for Atlas carrier rockets in December, Energomash director and chief designer Boris Katorgin told a news conference on Monday.
Two RD-180 engines for the Atlas have already been supplied in 2004, and three more will be delivered soon, he said.
A total of 23 RD-180 engines have been supplied under the contract with the United States, Katorgin said.
Commenting on the successful launch on December 17 of an Atlas-5 heavy rocket propelled by a Russian engine, he said: "Our engine worked well, and the American specialists had no complaints."
Energomash supplies an updated version of RD-180 for U.S. Atlas-3 and Atlas-5 carrier rockets. Two American and one European firm had sought the contract, but the Russian engine was given preference. The engines are fully assembled at the Russian plant.