[digikata]

Ironically though, many rockets built by companies specializing in the US defense are dependent on Russian rocket engines to send their vehicles into space.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD-180#Replacement_for_the_RD-...

[gandhium]

Yes, those engines (and ISS parts) were specifically ordered by US to keep Soviet rocket production busy and to avoid their migration to North Korea or Iran.

[Bendingo]

I've not heard this idea before. Why wouldn't US simply allow the Soviet rocket production to just die?

Please do you have a reference for it?

[gandhium]

As I said they were afraid that North Korea or Iran will snatch their scientists.

So they paid Russians to develop an ISS module: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/element...

And they paid them to develop RD-180 engine: https://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac201/index.html