The RD-180 engine may be mounted on Russia’s super-heavy carrier rocket and modernized Soyuz-2 launchers, Energomash CEO Igor Arbuzov told TASS at the Airshow China exhibition on Friday.

"As part of the work to develop a concept of the super-heavy carrier rocket, the option of using the RD-180 engine on the second stage of the carrier rocket is being considered," the chief executive said.

"Also, in view of its reliability and indisputable leadership in its class, the possibility of using it on newly-created and modernized domestic launchers is being considered. In particular, its use for modernizing Soyuz-2 rockets may be considered," he added.

As Energomash Chief Designer Pyotr Lavochkin explained, "This is consonant with the concept, which suggests that all the parts of the super-heavy rocket should be flight elements featuring their serial production and the statistics of launches."

RD-180 engines are used on the first stages of US Atlas space launch vehicles and have never been mounted on domestic rockets. An engine variant was planned for its use in the project of the Russian Rus-M carrier but the program was halted.

Contracts signed by Energomash for the delivery of RD-180 engines to the United States are valid through 2020 when six such engines are scheduled to be transferred to the US side. Energomash may also exercise an option on the delivery of RD-180 engines to the United States in 2021.

In 2014, the US Congress imposed a ban on the use of RD-180 engines amid a deterioration of relations with Russia but lifted it in 2015 when it became clear that the United States would be unable to manufacture rocket engines on its own in the next few years. However, as NASA Chief Jim Bridenstine said in August, the United States will continue developing alternatives to RD-180 engines.