For 10 years Soyuz was the only way US astronauts could reach the ISS. They are far ahead in hypersonics. There is no reason to presume inferiority.
But our tech companies have greater strength through diversity.
Again, I caution you guys to presume inferiority.
For 10 years Soyuz was the only way US astronauts could reach the ISS. They are far ahead in hypersonics. There is no reason to presume inferiority.
They have their own semiconductor foundries in Russia, and China as well, while we are largely dependent on what is made in Taiwan.
They have superior education. Check our plummeting ACT and SAT scores. And don’t stomp your feet and start talking Democrats and politics. It doesn’t matter why it plummets. It simply does, and that is why they lead in hypersonics and we had to beg for rides to the ISS . . . for 10 friggin years.
Defensive much?
For 10 years Soyuz was the only way US astronauts could reach the ISS. They are far ahead in hypersonics. There is no reason to presume inferiority.
But our tech companies have greater strength through diversity.
Do NOT sell the Russians short.
They are very smart. The political system stifles them but some get through.
You assume they are backwards and ignorant at your peril.
As a naval weapon, hypersonics have a clear advantage.
Over land, a 500 mph, ground hugging, cruise missile is still almost invulnerable.
Also noteworthy, the USA has spent many billions of dollars for hypersonic R&D.
However, from general reading, I have never noticed a USA military consensus that we need to compete - step for step - against the Russians and Chinese for hypersonic technology.
Both economies are withered to serious problems
The Soyuz is a piece of 1960's tech with incremental improvements around the edge. We could have continued to fly an "evolved Apollo" just like they fly an "evolved Soyuz".
The Russians have been trying to build a replacement for Soyuz for some time, but have yet to fly anything (or if they did, it was unmanned).
“Again, I caution you guys to presume inferiority.”
I agree. Absolutely never underestimate your adversary. Especially when there are real world examples to the contrary. Arrogance is not a virtue or superiority.