The RD-180 engine will power the first stage of Lockheed Martin's new Atlas III and Atlas V series of ELV's.  The RD-180 is a two thrust chamber derivative of the RD-170 engine which powers the Zenit first stage.   The RD-180 was developed in Russia and will be marketed jointly by NPO Energomash and Pratt & Whitney (UTC).  Under the guidelines of the US Air Force EELV contract, Pratt & Whitney will produce RD-180's in West Palm Beach, FL for the government Atlas V launches.

The RD-180 was developed in a relatively short period of time and was scaled from the RD-170, which makes up 80% of the RD-180 parts.   In addition to the Atlas III and Atlas V launch vehicles, the RD-180 has been proposed to power the Russian Angara launch vehicle.