The NK-33 may be old, but it offers equal or superior performance to anything made in the US. Another engine, the RD-180 is used in the Atlas. US industries hav

The NK-33 may be old, but it offers equal or superior performance to anything made in the US. Another engine, the RD-180 is used in the Atlas. US industries have the rights to manufacture, but want $800M and 4 years to build it or create a new engine. That tells you the state of US tech. http://aviationweek.com/defense/aerojet-rocketdyne-targets-25-million-pair-ar-1-engines http://aviationweek.com/defense/aerojet-rocketdyne-targets-2... Video on Russian/Ukranian engines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMbl_ofF3AM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMbl_ofF3AM