M = Modernizeerovannyy literally “improved version”

Better than Mishen (target)

Did you miss the point where I said there is evidence they – obvious reference to ex-Soviet designs – can be dangerous?

You may feel that somebody made a judgement based on lack of evidence to suggest otherwise, but that was never said. Clearly if a design was air superiority it could demonstrate it in practice. It hasn’t demonstrated air superiority ever due to the fact it doesn’t fly that well defined mission. Rather it is used in its defined role, as a counter air escort flying screens for attack missions. The Russian air services never defined it as air superiority. The Indians never did. Not even the Chinese have claimed their Flankers to be for air superiority. Because it wasn’t designed for that role.

It could probably accomplish that role in many environments. But until now it has never done that. Even the few MiG losses didn’t stop MiG ingresses. It only made the MiG pilots more cautious

I would contend that F-22 uses the exact same missiles that have downed many ex-Soviet designs. Russia has at least one drone and an F/A-18C. The former was unarmed and the latter unaware. So there is evidence they could kill, just in practice they haven’t hit much if at all. Western aircraft on the other hand have dominated the engagements.

And yet the Americans fly with impunity. Last time I checked the Russians are equipped with AAMs more appropriate for the Cold War rather than 2016. And S400? Get real. That one battery they showed in propaganda didn’t contain all the elements necessary to operate. I have my doubts S400 is operational in Syrian airspace.

Yet they stay away from US fighters. If Russia enjoyed air superiority then it would be the only air force in those skies. Point is, Flanker has never been about air superiority. It was designed for long range counter air. Not the same.

Once again JSR talking about the ‘mythical Flanker’ that still doesn’t exist to this day. Neither Su-30SM nor Su-35S is air superiority. The only superiority they’ve ever demonstrated was downing a small number of Fulcrums. Otherwise, there is virtually no real world examples of combat. And even the most evolved Su-30 – the MKI – only fared well playing technicality niche maneuvers against older F-15’s to take advantage of specific rules of engagement in the wargames.

We need a Third Rail or General Topics forum for this type of thread.

Until then PLEASE Lock the thread. It’s about politics not aviation