[TigerLikesRooster]

I think Russia is conducting a sweeping evaluation of its military using their Syria operation. They brought in a wide-range of weaponry, some of which may not be necessary for this particular operation. They didn't have to use long-range bombers or sea-launched long-range missiles from Caspian Sea to hit Jihadi targets. It makes a good PR but also a way to test what they have.

[bert]

I agree and carry it one step further.

The exercise is being conducted using stock pile of who knows how old explosives. Having many times more than what they actually need allows the exercise to go forward cheap. I feel certain that various military attaches from military customers have been drug out to actually the stuff in action. The war is a sales event

Then the carrier came on the scene and screwed all the sales pitches up

[reed13k]

concur with both of you