ORLANDO If U.S. lawmakers have their way, the Russian-built RD-180 engine will cease being used on military launches by 2019.

Language agreed upon for the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act, finalized by negotiators for the Senate and House Tuesday, essentially puts a timetable on the use of the RD-180, a key component in the United Launch Alliance's Atlas V space launch vehicle.

A summary of the NDAA language, obtained by Defense News, prohibits the use of the RD-180 for national security launches, with an exception of a waiver "if needed for national security and if space launch services cannot be obtained at a fair and reasonable price without the use" of the engines.

The language allows the use of any RD-180 engines procured before Russia's invasion of Crimea, or purchased under an existing block-buy launch contract. That is key, as ULA signed an $11 billion agreement to cover all RD-180 purchases through 2019.

Notably, the language "mandates the development" of a new rocket propulsion system for the Pentagon, to be active by 2019. That is something that has been widely expected, with industry taking steps to prepare for such a deadline. ULA has teamed up with Seattle-based Blue Origin to offer a new rocket option, and Aerojet Rocketdyne has also offered a new solution.

Just how that will be funded – and there are multiple options out there, including public-private partnerships – is unclear from the summary, but Air Force officials have raised serious concerns about what impact that may have on its overall budget.

Taken all together, it is clear Congress wants the US to end its use of the Russian-made engine by 2019. The engine has been a key component of military launch since the middle of the last decade, but has become increasingly controversial since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to the engine language, the summary orders the Air Force to add an additional "competitive" launch contract in FY15 and a second sometime between FY15 and FY17. While ULA has a monopoly on military space launch, competitor SpaceX is expected to be certified in the near future and has been lobbying hard through Congress to open up the number of potential launches it could bid on.

Expect the NDAA language to hit the House floor later this week.

About Aaron Mehta

Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.

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