KIEV, June 20 – State Yuzhnoye Design Office and Yuzhmash Production Association (both based in Dnipropetrovsk) are preparing to supply the first operational rocket engine for the new European Vega launcher, Yuzhnoye Chief Designer Volodymyr Shniakin told Interfax-Ukraine.

"At present, the qualification tests have been finalized, and the operational model is being assembled, its transfer to the customer – Italy's Avio SpA – will be in September. The tests of the whole engine will be dome in October in Germany under control of Àstrium GmbH," he said.