The Russians have their MIC corruption relatively under control. Thieving generals do go to jail when caught in Russia.
In 2024 the Russians spent$101Billion on defense. They completed the largest mobilization since WWII, deployed air defense at least one, probably two generations ahead of ours with the S500. The Russians also deployed the Oreshnik IRBM that is two or three generations ahead of anything we’ve even thought about. Oh yeah, Russia also thumped NATO weapons systems all over the Uke battlefield. We spent nine times what Russia did! NATO spent sixteen times what the Russians did!
Cut the military by 40% today. First cut, ALL planned aircraft carriers.
You’re joking.
Russia’s war materiele has been looted for years for scrap by its generals and rank-and-file. Are you forgetting the failed assault on Kyiv? The Russians anticipated a three-day war and set off in a convoy that stretched for miles. Among other reasons for it fizzling was that wheeled vehicles were getting stuck because tires hadn’t been updated or maintained.
As for their “wonder weapons,” a little perspective:
The super state-of-the-art Russian Stealth aircraft, the SU57, is specified as having the radar cross section about the size of a marble, about the same as an F22 Raptor.
When we catch some on radar, the cross section is about the same as a Navy Hornet’s, which isn’t even a Stealth aircraft.
The armored attack helicopter, the Alligator, was supposed to be armored against anti-aircraft cannon fire.
Soldiers shoot them down with small arms fire.