that’s a good point. Would Moscow be willing to sell them a wide range of things? they could possibly limit them to a few defensive oriented weapons.
Moscow restrained itself on the type of stuff they sold to Syria and Pakistan.

that is past tense. There was belief in Moscow that if it start invading Europe again Israel/Jews will be restraining US from helping Europe. so bargaining with Israel. but Ukraine happened and than Iran nuclear deal that Obama determined to implement it regardless of Israel. so there is not much importance left for Israel. Stay tune.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151022/1028967245/russia–un-iran-missile.html
Russia’s UN Envoy Warns US: Don’t ‘Sensationalize’ Iran Missile Test

China neither has the technology/Production capacity or transport to quickly replenish wars in Middleast. so there is no competition at all.

Pilot skills are improving.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20151022/1028913946/russian-airstrikes-syria-thursday.html
The Russian airstrikes on the ISIL facilities are becoming increasingly efficient, the Defense Ministry spokesman stressed.
“If at earlier stages [of the operation] Russian aircraft operated in pairs, now each crew destroys at least two confirmed targest in one sortie thanks to their good knowledge of terrain,” he said.

According to Konashenkov, the number of potential targets has significantly increased, as militants are moving their forces from the Raqqa province and Iraq to Syria’s west. The Russian Defense Ministry believes the terrorists are attempting to send trucks with arms and ammunition to the combat area.

So why does Russia bombing ISIS in Iraq have any bearing on the US bombing them? In Iraq there’s not even a conflict of interest surely.

it is called competition in credibility and effectivness. They already captured Biji

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/oct/20/us-wary-as-iran-russia-step-up-iraq-role/
Two separate anti-Islamic State ground campaigns are playing out in Iraq. One in Ramadi, roughly 70 miles west of Baghdad, is being led by Iraqi government troops with direct air and advisory support from U.S. officials. The second is underway around a key oil refinery in Baiji, some 150 miles north of Baghdad, where Iraqi forces working with Iran-backed Shiite militias reportedly routed Islamic State fighters on Tuesday.

“If the ISF are unable to clear ISIS from Ramadi, it will undermined the credibility of U.S. support to Iraq at a time when Russia and Iran are competing with the U.S. for leadership of anti-ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria,” states the report, compiled by Patrick Martin, a research assistant at the institute.

If ISF and Iranian proxy militias “succeed in recapturing Baiji and the nearby refinery while the ISF-led operation in Ramadi flounders, [Prime Minister Abadi] will face immense pressure to continue permitting the proxy militias to take a leading role in operations,” the report said.

The U.S. military’s balancing act was on display Tuesday when Gen. Dunford’s flight into Iraq was suddenly delayed by officials in Baghdad who briefly refused to allow his C-17 aircraft to land in Irbil, the capital of the Iraq’s Kurdish region.

Lots of cargo ships.

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/middle-east/355830/shipping-traffic-to-syria-surges-as-russia-steps-up-offensive

If this report is accurate than Egypt alone will take substantial part of production capacity of ka-52 for next couple of years and Russia will want to preserve airframe/engine life of ka-52 by not deploying it. i dont think Ka-52 production capacity is more than 16 a year.

http://tass.ru/en/defense/830287
Egypt may increase order of Russian Ka-52 type helicopters to 80 — source
“In addition to 50 Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters, the contract for which has already been signed, the Egyptian side plans to acquire, in order to equip Mistrals, Ka-52K Katran naval helicopters and is now making up its mind about their number,” the source said.

http://m.voanews.com/a/us-official-says-russia-military-build-up-in-syria-is-long-term/2972710.html

Thats correct assessment. Russia will stay in Middleast permanently to built loyal allies with Russian weopons, training and leadership that will defeat every one else in the battlefield at minimum cost.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/20/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-kurds-idUSKCN0SE0KC20151020

low oil prices have led to big defeat in canadian election. low oil prices in Middleast means collapsing states and royal families fleeing. Only Russian military and weopons are the cheapest and most effective force in preventing state collapse.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-19/opec-brings-oil-price-war-home-in-pursuit-of-asia-s-cash
Iraq’s selling its Basrah Heavy grade $3.70 a barrel below Saudi Arabia’s Arab Heavy variety, the biggest discount since April when Iraq started marketing the oil.

his definition of defense is very different. I think his multi decade rant against kuwaiti pushed then into Eurofighter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEPs17_AkTI

Are you able to read ? MQ-9 Reaper and it`s smaller brother Predator are by far the benchmark, not unrealibale and not noisy.

This is exactly what Russia needs

Unless you want to defund real airforce and invest people and industrial chain for practically worth less capability. 90% of hits are wrong. noise and slow speed entails flying at higher altitude.

http://www.rferl.org/content/us-drone-strikes-casualties-purported-leaked-documents/27309819.html
According to the documents, in one five-month period, nearly 90 percent of drone-strike casualties were not the intended targets.
The documents indicate that the signals intelligence that the United States relies on for drone strikes is “poor and limited” in many countries such as Somalia and Yemen.

Russia can clean Yemen in less than a month by building effective alliance with locals. that takes decade for US to fight.

Built large number of smaller drones. Put mobile land attack version of Brahmos batteries. and the kill chain will be much faster and more destructive at Mach 3 speed.