Russia Seeks Soyuz Autonomy, Offers U.S. Return to Titanium Supply

Russia is pressing ahead with plans for a new generation of Soyuz launch vehicles designed to remove the remaining Ukrainian-made components from its space program, according to state media reports released on 26 Aug. The initiative marks the latest effort by Moscow to localize critical aerospace supply chains that were disrupted after relations with Kyiv deteriorated. Separately, Russian Deputy Prime Minister said the United States can still purchase Russian-produced titanium. He added that Moscow hopes to revive cooperation between titanium producer VSMPO-AVISMA and Boeing at the company’s facilities in the Sverdlovsk region, signaling a potential reopening of a supply channel that was curtailed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Continued access to Russian titanium would be significant for Western aerospace manufacturers, which have long depended on VSMPO-AVISMA—the world’s largest titanium producer—for aircraft-grade metal. Any resumption of deliveries would require U.S. regulatory clearance, but the deputy prime minister’s remarks indicate Russia’s readiness to restore the trade despite broader sanctions.