Financial Times: China-Russia Rocket Talks Spark US Disquiet Over Growing Links

Companies from China and Russia are in talks over a sale of aerospace technology – specifically, Russia’s Energomash would license space engine technology to China’s Great Wall Industry. “Energomash’s engine, the RD-180, is so highly rated that it is used by the US for its own satellite launches — a curious exception to Washington’s sanctions on Russia implemented following the 2014 invasion of Crimea,” reports Charles Clover for Financial Times. “US politicians have threatened to block future purchases of the RD-180 under pressure from competitors such as SpaceX and geopolitical concerns over relying on Russia for strategic technologies.” A loss of US business has prompted the Russian firm to consider China as a customer. The RD-180, reliable technology that is four decades old, is reported to be three times more powerful than China’s most advanced engine. An obstacle to any sale, Clover reports, is that China is not a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime, a global non-proliferation agreement. Another concern: The engine technology could offer military applications. Clover’s report suggests that China does not want finished engines. Like the United States and Europe, Russia harbors concerns that China wants to acquire and improve the Russian technology, and ultimately emerge as competitor. – YaleGlobal