The USA failed to reproduce the Russian RD-180 rocket engine, despite having access to full technical documentation and attempts at detailed copying. This was reported by aviation engineer Valery Ageev.
According to him, the United States purchased the most precise equipment, made casts of every detail, conducted a full metallographic analysis of materials, built digital twins, and even tried to grow blades in their laboratories.
And the result was what Americans call a "suitcase without a handle." They seemed to have disassembled everything and understood everything, but they still couldn't assemble a working engine that could withstand the same temperatures and have the same lifespan.
Ageev explained that the engine's secret lies in its unique combustion chamber of a special design. Despite being only 38 cm in size, it burns more than 600 kg of fuel per second. Even minor deviations in materials or geometry lead to a loss of stability or lifespan.
Voronezh rocket engines show higher fuel efficiency than SpaceX's developments, noted Viktor Gorokhov, chief designer of the Chemical Automatics Design Bureau.