[SunkenCiv]

I read a year or two ago that the Russians are developing a new type of rocket tech which would equal or superseed the BFR

My ass they are. They're also going to *finally* send humans to the Moon, and make the first manned missions to Mars. As Sam Kinison once said, you want to impress us? Bring back our FLAG! :^)

[PIF]

Civ, it was all over the web at the time. Whether it continued to be pushed I have no idea. I’ll look around see if I can ;locate some old story about it.

[PIF]

Here are a couple of stories - I think what I remember revolves around their new super heavy lift vehicle - the pulse engine is new to me however.

Russia’s A5V moon mission rocket may be replaced with new super-heavy-lift vehicle

Russia first to test clean pulse-detonation rocket engine (VIDEO)

Anyway do not discount Russian expertise with rocket engines. I'm sure there was a story about a new engine based on a different way to generate much more thrust due to a novel engine design; at the time the aim was to get to something like 170 tons to LEO with more possible using addons to the lift vehicle.