In
1946, the British government allowed Rolls-Royce
to export the Nene turbojet engine to the Soviet Union. The
Klimov construction bureau quickly copied the engine then began
improving it.
The resulting RD-45 (later VK-1)
began production in 1947. Over 39,000 were produced. A
further 8,500 were built in China by Shen Yang under license.
