“I wonder if they can yet?”
After 20+ years of working in the US, China, Japan, France, England, etc, in every aerospace company in the world...they have learned a great deal. Their capitalism has let them enjoy their quest for excellence. They may not be at our level yet, but they will be quick to get there. I’ve work with a number of old Soviets. They are not stupid.
Never meant to imply that they’re stupid, but that they’re DEVIOUS. They flew the MiG-25 on a few select occasions where they knew we’d notice and clock it at an amazing speed. We weren’t supposed to find out that it would only do that in a straight line and for a limited time, after which the engines would be shot. Soooo, naturally, I have doubts as to this plane’s ACTUAL abilities. If they show us a high speed takeoff and some slow aerobatics with no payload, I’m inclined to believe that’s its repertoire.
Your information regarding advancements in their technology is enlightening, but as I recall, the defector, Lt. Belenko’s big complaint about Russian manufacturing was that the great majority of factory workers were drunk on cheap vodka nearly all day every day. It was that smothering hopelessness of living under communism that finally led him to give up on communism and defect to the U.S. via Japan.