By the grace of their speed fighters would first to fight.

In the 50’s F-86F vs MiG-17.
60’s 21 vs F-4 and Mirage III.
70’s 21 bis, 23 vs F-4E and F-15A.
80’s 23MLD and 29 vs F-15 and F-16 (Mirage 2000).

The USSR could reach English Channel in 7 days even in late 80’s. Conventional armes disparity in Europe was huge. Brittanica’s yearly issue of 1988 give USSR 1.4 to 1 advantage in armes over entire NATO.

Question was related to military aviation alone. USSR had very capable designs but it was always trailing in time. For example by the time MiG-23MLD was in service it had to fight in BVR with F-15.

Probably the only time then soviets had little to fear is 1974-1978 when they amassed thousands of MiG-21bis plus MiG-23M. I am sure that in the soviet hands MiG-25 cold do some damage also.

rate of climb 320-330 m/s is also noted for MiG-29 and EF Typhoon. Did thouse were also stripped down?