America “recovered consciousness after the sanctions madness” and now it is ready to increase the purchase of Russian rocket engines, RIA Novosti reports with reference to Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Rogozin.

He said earlier that Russia may halt the deliveries of NK-33 and RD-180 engines to USA in response to sanctions against Russia imposed by USA. "USA keeps on purchasing NK-33 and RD-180 engines and it is ready to buy even more since it has recovered consciousness after the sanctions madness", — Rogozin said at the First Russia-China Expo.

RIA Novosti did not receive any comments on the matter from US authorities.

According to Rogozin, China is also interested in purchase of Russian rocket engines: "They need these engines to place heavy payloads into orbit and we are interested in these deliveries".

We remind you that US Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, instructed the US Air Force Command to reconsider the principles of military-technical cooperation with Russia and reduce America’s dependence on Russian engines.

According to Bloomberg, development of a rocket engine intended to replace RD-180 (powers US Atlas-5 launch vehicle) may cost up to $1.5 billion; it will take about six years to develop the engine.