[Skybird]

Maybe the Russian air force in numbers is not that impressive anymore as it once was. It surely is impressive however in its top notch fighters' principal quality and capability, and arsenal of latest generation missiles. Missiles, air combat as well as anti tank missiles, always have been a field where Russia/USSR excelled in. While I would give the edge to the West in airframes's quality, last time I checked on AAMs and ATGMs, I had several examples where I would prefer the Russian designs to their Western counterparts (torpedoes as well, btw.)

And Russian ground units are really heavy in both SAMs and ATGM.

The huge and diverse array of highly potent SAMS - now that is something entirely different. Russia has the technological ability to turn whole geographic regions into access-denial zones. If they would want it, they could interfere in most of Eastern European airspace already right now, and deep into Germany. The equipment for that they already have in place, they just need to push the button.

And they already said years ago they also have the technological means to de-cloak stealthed airplanes. Whether these means are mobile and thus can be seen outside Russia, or are stationary unmovable installations, is something different, also the range of these claimed sensors seems to be unknown. Would we want to base on the assumption that they were just boasting? I would not. Not when consideirng the costs of a even just a single B2 bomber or a F-22.

The ME wars of the past 20 years - have not been against Russia and Russian forces, running regular Russian equipment by Russian doctrine and commanded by Russian commanders and trained Russian troops. The Iraq wars say little about how it would go against the Russians, if war would come.

Also, the American cyber war especially in 2003 found practically no potent opponent for that at all.

Blocking comms and radio networks also is something that Russian forces prioritize and are damn good at - Iraqi forces could have just dreamed of that.