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Comment by wmkn | Hacker News Reader

Of all the example you could give of Russian tech you pick their space program. Which is currently the only one capable of bringing people to the ISS. Without Russia's rockets, modular or not, the ISS would be deserted right now.

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but the soyuz was designed in the '60s, it's not much of an example of "the modern russian tech scene" as much as of the "USSR whatever it takes" practices, I think?

The Soyuz programme is still in active development. It began in the 60s but they're still designing/making new Soyuz rockets/spacecraft.

>they're still designing/making new Soyuz rockets/spacecraft.

that is exactly the point :) They are also still designing/making new "Zhiguli"("Lada") cars ("cars made of turnip" http://vdownload.eu/watch/856185-top-gear-lada-kalina.html ) Beside modest improvements to existing tech, Russia hasn't been able to produce new modern tech in 30 years. They sell oil (with most of the complex drilling in the last 20 years done by western companies with Russia completely missing shale/fracking technology) and buy PCs.

Hmm - this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT-2PM2_Topol-M can do things that no other system can do (hypersonic manuvering)

This is fairly unique as well : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VA-111_Shkval

But it was still mostly designed over 20 years ago http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT-2PM2_Topol-M#Development_a...

Thats a dumb argument. Boeing still makes 747s, which is the same age.

but boeing also launched the 767, 777 and 787 in the intervening decades.

you have obviously never driven/ridden in Russian car :). Otherwise 747 comparison would never cross your mind :)

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