Correct. Add to this that in the USSR civil and military uses were much closer related than in the west, for an example, see my previous comment: the engine of the Tu-160 bomber was later fitted to the experimental Tu-144LL. see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuznetsov_NK-32
I am not quite convinced about the test limitations for the Polyus station; I mean according to Anton Chechov, that (laser) gun in the picture would have to shoot, at some point. Maybe that would have resulted in much earlier conflict between the political leadership and the military industrial complex, who knows. They mentioned that that they had the Buran launcher fuelled up and ready for launch, while attempts were ongoing to push the decission for the test launch through, I mean that sounds like of lots of politics was going on behind the scene, assuming that this exercise would have a significant risk and cost a non trivial amount of money.
I am not quite convinced about the test limitations for the Polyus station; I mean according to Anton Chechov, that (laser) gun in the picture would have to shoot, at some point. Maybe that would have resulted in much earlier conflict between the political leadership and the military industrial complex, who knows. They mentioned that that they had the Buran launcher fuelled up and ready for launch, while attempts were ongoing to push the decission for the test launch through, I mean that sounds like of lots of politics was going on behind the scene, assuming that this exercise would have a significant risk and cost a non trivial amount of money.