“but IMHO its really just shown a number of technology shortcomings. ”

There is a good reason we stopped seeing a lot of footage from US bombings when the transition from laser guided to GPS guided was made. GPS is frankly going to be less accurate almost all the time because of lack of terminal correction and I would bet the majority of US bombing is pretty much exactly as bad as this Russian bombing. If they were lobbing TV guided or laser guided it would be pin point too but nobody wants to waste the money. What the Pentagon releases is the “best of” clips.

What the hell are you trying to say, because I’m reading too much nonsense in your post.

If they go for any major design changes then it makes more sense for a version based off T-50. I’m not so sure it’s not already coming based on trends.

China J-15’s may augment Russian jets in Syria

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/610286/China-preparing-to-team-up-with-Russia-in-Syria-Boost-for-Putin-in-battle-against-ISIS

It’s sad that Al Qaeda in Syria has been labeled by a new name, backed by the State Department, and described as moderate. Russia has bombed the crap out of them and the US protested!? It’s an upside down administration.

Andraxxus-

I already laid out the big picture strategy for Russia in post 15 or 16 of this thread. The Turkish local governments, religious leaders, and factions in their national government are very keen to keep ISIS alive post-Syria restoration. Russia is attacking the civil war issues before tackling ISIS. Notice how the Turkish government quickly got involved? Russia legitimately intervened at the request of the legal authority of Syria, the Assad government. They will give the small players a chance to realign with Assad, with them acting as intermediaries of course. Forces directly opposed to ISIS will get Spetnaz help to target ISIS and to use these smaller players to neuter ISIS wherever possible. Not all the local leaders of opposition forces agreed and Russia promptly used a show of force to prove decisions have consequences. It’s already happening if you closely follow the map where Russia has been operating. When the neo-Syria coalition is formed ISIS will implode. They already have suffered massive disbandment of units. This operation to stabilize Syria may be over in 100 days.

Do you even read the posts you reply to?

It’s called expansion of the theme. Your post put mine into context. I was not refuting your statement.

Your premise is off. A 25,000 pound MTOW fighter will be much more affordable than a 50,000 pound MTOW. It’s simply not half the cost. They chose the maximum airframe for the target build quantity. If they needed more endurance or heavier MTOW then obviously you scale back the target number to build. It’s almost always more effective and efficient to go with bigger aircraft than a larger quantity. The crux of the matter is most partners required too many aircraft numbers, so they ended up with this current size. If cost was no limit then obviously all heavyweight fighters make more sense. The US and Russia are about the only military forces to go with multiple weight classes with each progressive design.