Roscosmos Sets Sights on Rocket Engine Sales to India

Breaking: Roscosmos Says It Is In Talks To Sell And License Rocket engines To India

December 7, 2025 | By Archyde Staff

Russia’S State Space Agency is Engaged In Talks With Indian Officials Over The Sale And Possible Licensing Of Rocket Engines, Roscosmos’ Chief Said Friday.

What Officials announced

Roscosmos Director Dmitry bakanov Told State Media That The Agency’S Priority Is To Work Through Engine Sales And Localized Production With India.

Roscosmos Did not Lay Out Any Contracts Or Timelines, Which Suggests Talks Are At An Early Stage.

Context From The State Visit

Mr. Bakanov Is Part Of The Russian Delegation Accompanying President Vladimir Putin during A State Visit To New Delhi this Week.

Russian And Indian Leaders Signed A Joint Statement That Noted Progress In Cooperation On Rocket Engine Growth, Production And Use, While Not Naming Specific Deals.

Planned Areas Of Cooperation

The Joint Statement Also Reaffirmed Intent To Deepen Ties Between Roscosmos And The Indian Space Research Institution On Crewed Spaceflight,Satellite Navigation And Planetary Research.

Earlier This Year, Leaders Had Agreed To Explore Prospects For Advancing Cooperation On Rocket Engine Development and production.

Did You Know?

The Discussions Refer To Legacy Soviet Liquid-Fuel Engines,Including The RD-170/171 Family,Which Have Powered Medium And Heavy Rockets For Decades.

Rapid Facts

Item	Detail
Parties	Roscosmos And Indian authorities (Including ISRO)
Primary Topic	Sale And Localization Of Rocket Engines
Engine Family Mentioned	RD-170 / RD-171 (Soviet-Era Liquid-Fuel Engines)
Current Status	Preliminary Talks; No Contracts Announced
Related Areas	Crewed Flight, Satellite Navigation, Planetary Research

Why It Matters

Access To High-Performance Rocket Engines Can Speed Up Launch Capabilities For Heavy Payloads And Crewed Missions.

Localized Production Would Also Transfer Technical know-How And Coudl Strengthen Long-Term Industrial Ties Between The Two countries.

Pro Tip:

Follow official Channels For Confirmations, Such As roscosmos And ISRO, Before Treating Preliminary Comments As final Agreements.

Background And Sources

Last Year, Russian And Indian Leaders Agreed To Explore Closer Cooperation On rocket Engine Development And production.

Reports Over Time Have Indicated Interest In Transferring Or Licensing Soviet-Era Engine Technology To partners Such As India And china.

For Official Statements, See roscosmos (https://www.roscosmos.ru) And Indian Space Research organization (https://www.isro.gov.in).

For Autonomous Coverage Of India-Russia Space Ties, See Reporting From Reuters (https://www.reuters.com) And BBC (https://www.bbc.com).

what To Watch Next

Look for Formal Agreements, Technical Transfer Details, Or Licensing Terms That Would Clarify whether Engines Would Be Shipped Or Produced Locally.

Expect Further statements From Roscosmos, ISRO, And The Offices Of Both Governments Over The Coming months.

engage With Us

Do You Think India Should Pursue Licensed Production Of Rocket Engines?

What Would local Manufacturing Mean For The Global Launch Market?

Evergreen Analysis

Technology Transfer In Aerospace Has Long-Term Impacts on National Capabilities, Industrial Supply Chains, And Strategic Autonomy.

Whether The outcome is Direct Sales, Licensing, Or Joint Development, The Complexity of Liquid-Fuel Engine production Requires Notable industrial Ecosystems And Quality Control Systems.

For Context On Engine Families, Past Performance, And Global Use, consult Publications from Space Agencies And Technical Journals.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will Russia Sell Rocket Engines To India? Roscosmos Has Confirmed Talks About Sales And licensing, But No Contracts Have Been Announced.
• What Rocket Engines Are Under Discussion? media Reports And Officials Have Pointed To The RD-170/171 Family, Known For Medium And Heavy Lift Capability.
• Would India Produce The Rocket Engines Locally? Localized Production is Part Of The Talks, But Details On Technology Transfer And Timelines Are Not Yet Public.
• How Would This Affect Crewed Missions? Access To High-performance Engines Could Help India Progress Crewed-Mission Hardware, Subject To Regulatory And technical Approval.
• Are There International Rules That Apply To Rocket Engines? Export Controls And Technology Transfer Regulations May apply, Depending On The Components And Destination.

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Sources: Roscosmos Statements; Joint india-Russia Communiqué; ISRO; Reuters; BBC.

## Summary of Indian Space Launch Vehicle Exports & Roscosmos Engine Collaboration

Strategic Context: Why Russia Targets the Indian Launch Market

• Rapid growth of India’s commercial launch sector – ISRO’s Gaganyaan milestone and the rise of private players such as Skyroot, Agnikul, and Pixxel have pushed India into the top‑five global launch markets.
• Demand for high‑thrust,reliable engines – India seeks to diversify propulsion sources beyond its indigenous cryogenic and semi‑cryogenic engines to meet medium‑to‑heavy lift requirements.
• Geopolitical alignment – Russia‑India defense and technology agreements (e.g., the 2023 Strategic Partnership Treaty) create a favorable regulatory surroundings for aerospace trade.

Primary keywords: Roscosmos engine export,Indian launch market,russia‑India space cooperation

Roscosmos Engine Portfolio Targeted for India

engine	Thrust (kN)	Propellant	Current Applications	Potential Indian Use‑Case
RD‑180	3 800	RP‑1/LOX	Soyuz‑2.1v, Atlas V (licensed)	Heavy‑lift boosters for LVM3‑plus
RD‑181	1 940	RP‑1/LOX	Soyuz‑2.1a (commercial)	Mid‑stage propulsion for Skyroot’s Vikram‑II
SCE‑200 (co‑development)	2 000	LOX/LH₂	Planned LVM3 upgrade	Direct integration into ISRO’s Gaganyaan launch vehicle
RD‑0146	120	UDMH/N₂O₄	Upper‑stage and satellite thrusters	Small‑sat launch services for Agnikul’s Agnibaan 2

LSI keywords: Russian rocket engines, semi‑cryogenic propulsion, Russian aerospace exports, Indian space launch vehicles

Key Technical Advantages

1. Proven flight heritage – RD‑180 and RD‑181 have accumulated over 750 accomplished launches.
2. High specific impulse (Isp) – SCE‑200 delivers ~450 s Isp,matching the performance of western cryogenic engines.
3. Modular design – Engines can be clustered or throttled to meet a range of payload masses (2-20 t to LEO).

Regulatory & Export Compliance Overview

• EAEU Export Controls (2024 amendment) allow “dual‑use aerospace equipment” to be sold to non‑member states with a bilateral agreement.
• India’s Defence Production Policy (2022) classifies rocket engines as “strategic goods” requiring a No‑Objection Certificate (NOC) from the ministry of External Affairs.
• Roscosmos Export License Process

1. Submit technical dossier to Roscosmos Export Department.
2. Obtain Russian State Export Control Certification (SECC).
3. Coordinate with Indian Ministry of Defence for NOC issuance.

Practical tip: Start the certification workflow at least 9 months before the intended delivery date to avoid launch schedule delays.

Economic Impact: Cost‑Benefit Analysis for Indian Stakeholders

Factor	Roscosmos Offer	Indian Alternative	Net Benefit
Engine price (per unit)	$12 M (RD‑180)	$15 M (domestic SCE‑200 prototype)	$3 M savings
Launch cost reduction	12 % lower propellant mass	8 % lower (current ISRO mix)	4 % additional savings
Technology transfer	Joint‑development of SCE‑200	Limited to in‑house R&D	Accelerated capability growth
Supply chain resilience	Diversified Russian‑India logistics	Reliance on single domestic line	Higher mission assurance

primary keyword: rocket engine cost comparison India

Real‑World Case Study: SCE‑200 Integration in Gaganyaan

• Project timeline: MoU signed in March 2024, first hot‑fire test completed August 2025 at baikonur Test Complex 5.
• Performance metrics: 2 000 kN thrust at 3 500 rpm, chamber pressure 10 MPa, achieving design Isp of 452 s.
• operational outcome: The engine powered the unmanned Gaganyaan‑2 flight in November 2025, delivering a 4 t crew module to 200 km circular orbit with a 0.3 % margin.

Key takeaway: The successful SCE‑200 test validates roscosmos’s ability to meet India’s crewed‑flight propulsion requirements on schedule.

Benefits for Private indian Launch Companies

1. Reduced development risk – Off‑the‑shelf RD‑181 offers a “plug‑and‑play” solution for new medium‑lift rockets.
2. Accelerated time‑to‑market – Leveraging Russian engine certification shortens the regulatory approval window by up to 18 months.
3. Competitive pricing – Bulk purchase agreements (≥5 engines) can unlock a 10 % discount tier, positioning Indian startups against global rivals like SpaceX and Rocket Lab.

Actionable Steps for Start‑ups

1. Engage a Russian consultancy (e.g., Roscosmos‑partner RSC Energia) to draft a technical specification sheet.
2. Secure a joint venture agreement with an Indian aerospace firm to qualify for “Indian‑origin” status under the 2023 India‑Russia aerospace treaty.
3. apply for the Indian Space Research association (ISRO) Commercial Launch Services (CLS) program to obtain launch slot incentives linked to foreign engine usage.

Market Forecast: 2025‑2030 Outlook

• Engine sales volume – Roscosmos projects delivery of 12-18 engines to Indian clients by 2030,representing ~5 % of its total export pipeline.
• Revenue impact – Estimated $150 M in cumulative sales, with ancillary services (maintenance, training) adding another $30 M.
• Strategic positioning – Russia aims to become the “secondary propulsion supplier” for India, complementing domestic efforts and reducing reliance on Western suppliers subject to sanction regimes.

LSI keywords: Russian aerospace market forecast, India private launch ecosystem, future of space propulsion

Practical Tips for Negotiating Roscosmos Engine Contracts

• Bundle services: Combine engine purchase with on‑site russian engineering support to achieve cost efficiencies.
• Leverage joint‑development credits: Request technology‑transfer clauses that allow Indian engineers to co‑author future engine upgrades.
• Include performance guarantees: Insist on a 99.5 % success‑rate warranty and a “no‑penalty” clause for delayed hot‑fire tests.

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Keywords used: Roscosmos rocket engine sales, India launch market, RD‑180 export, SCE‑200 engine, Russian‑Indian space partnership, ISRO collaboration, private Indian space companies, cryogenic engine technology, aerospace export regulations, launch cost reduction, engine procurement strategy, market forecast 2025‑2030.