Boeing, Lockheed Martin To Work On U.S. Made Rocket Engine

Worries about U.S. tensions with Russia are prompting some big moves in the defense sector. Boeing and Lockheed Martin teamed up in joint venture dubbed United Launch Alliance and they will work on the next generation of rocket engines. United Launch Alliance, or ULA, has signed contracts with multiple U.S. firms to experiment with and improve upon the propulsion process with liquid oxygen and hydrocarbon. It hopes to bring the U.S. complete independence in rocket launches. Up to now, the U.S. has relied on Russia to supply rocket engines. But, Russia's recent military moves in the Ukraine have heightened the U.S. government's concerns on the stability of the partnership. The U.S. Department of Defense said it wants to end the dependency on Russia. The firms who are participating in the alliance will perform technical analysis and cost assessments. By the end of 2014, one of them will be chosen to develop the new engine. The plan is for the first domestic made rocket engine to launch in 2019.