Windjammer
ELITE MEMBER
After the Second World War, and until recent past, apart from America and some European Countries, the only major military aircraft manufacturer/suppler was Soviet Russia..... Specially during the Cold war period, the entire Warsaw Pact Block was totally reliant on Soviet equipment.
In the category of Russian Combat Aircraft designing and manufacture, MIG and Sukhoi have been the prime leaders. The market for Russian aircraft, which was initially lead by the MIG Design Bureau, seemingly has been superseded by the Sukhoi Team..... However looking back, a simple breakdown is conclusive that the Russian aircraft have a chequered history and never faired well against their Western counterparts.
1950s......Korean War...... MIG-15 V F-86 Sabre
1960s......Vietnam War.....MIG-17/19/21 V F-4/F-100/F-5
1967........Six Day War.....MIG-17/19/21 V Mirage-3
1971.......India/Pakistan....SU-7/MIG-21 V F-86
1973.......Yum Kippur.......MIG- 17/19/21 V F-4/Mirage/Mystere IV
1980s....War Of Attrition..... MIG-21/23 V F-15/F-16
1980s....Afghan/Pak conflict...MIG-21/23/SU-22/SU-25 V F-16
1990s....Dessert Storm, Serbian War, Dessert Storm-2 and several other clashes have all been decisive to give credibility to the Western aircrafts, however this is not to say, it's all been a one way traffic, there have been occasions where say the MIG-21s shot down Phantoms, Mirages or the F-104s and the Chinese derivative of MIG-19, the F-6 performed remarkably well against newer aircraft but no battle honours were ever achieved to the extent that was to portray any Russian plane as an outclass Fighter Aircraft..... Albeit, newer versions, from both the Russian manufacturers, such as SU-27/30 and MIG-35 look impressive in designs and displays but it's yet to be seen, whether they are the Predators or just performers.
In the category of Russian Combat Aircraft designing and manufacture, MIG and Sukhoi have been the prime leaders. The market for Russian aircraft, which was initially lead by the MIG Design Bureau, seemingly has been superseded by the Sukhoi Team..... However looking back, a simple breakdown is conclusive that the Russian aircraft have a chequered history and never faired well against their Western counterparts.
1950s......Korean War...... MIG-15 V F-86 Sabre
1960s......Vietnam War.....MIG-17/19/21 V F-4/F-100/F-5
1967........Six Day War.....MIG-17/19/21 V Mirage-3
1971.......India/Pakistan....SU-7/MIG-21 V F-86
1973.......Yum Kippur.......MIG- 17/19/21 V F-4/Mirage/Mystere IV
1980s....War Of Attrition..... MIG-21/23 V F-15/F-16
1980s....Afghan/Pak conflict...MIG-21/23/SU-22/SU-25 V F-16
1990s....Dessert Storm, Serbian War, Dessert Storm-2 and several other clashes have all been decisive to give credibility to the Western aircrafts, however this is not to say, it's all been a one way traffic, there have been occasions where say the MIG-21s shot down Phantoms, Mirages or the F-104s and the Chinese derivative of MIG-19, the F-6 performed remarkably well against newer aircraft but no battle honours were ever achieved to the extent that was to portray any Russian plane as an outclass Fighter Aircraft..... Albeit, newer versions, from both the Russian manufacturers, such as SU-27/30 and MIG-35 look impressive in designs and displays but it's yet to be seen, whether they are the Predators or just performers.