In 1988, RSC Energia directed KBKhA to begin work on a new preburner-less LOx/LH2 rocket engine for use on upper stages, the RO-95.

Though this 10 tf (98 kN) engine never left the design phase, its development confirmed the reliability and performance of the expander cycle to KBKhA.

In that year, GKNPTs Khrunichev awarded a contract to KBKhA to develop a new engine, the RD-0146U, for use on its Proton and Angara launch vehicles.

Soon after, on 7 April 2000, the American company Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne entered an agreement with KBKhA, financing the development of the RD-0146.

[5] In order to facilitate test firings of the RD-0146, a new liquid hydrogen production plant was constructed, with a capacity of 100 kg (220 lb) per day.

It is also the first to have a nozzle extension without an active cooling system, as well as the first engine by KBKhA to feature separate fuel and oxidiser turbopumps.

[8] After the end of the collaboration with KHBhA, Avio continued the development of the M10 engine for the Vega-E program with a target thrust of 10 tonnes-force.