I have heard that the AA-11/R-73 “Archer” is a better
air-to-air missile than our sidewinder. I don’t if this
is still the fact. Its not the platform, its the missile that
is the difference.
Also, Russia has been working on a huge naval base in Syria
for years....Tartus just north of the Lebanon border:
http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/05/stories/2006060504281600.htm
but that’s only short range - ‘beyond visual range’ is where the music plays. If an iranian mig came to archer range to a nato figher wing it would be a small miracle.
AWACS and datalinks are the main advantages nowadays. Iranians couldn’t even tell if they where attacked by F-16, 15 or F22s (or tornados or rafalles or typhoons)
If you want to go out and buy a magazine, there is a nice article:
“Twisted Tale of the Sidewinder’s Development” By Mark Lardas
in Strategy & Tactics No. 242
very nice read.
The Archer & the Israeli Python-4 were the best AAMs in the world till about 2000,after which the US fielded the AIM-9X variant of the Sidewinder,which is on par if not better.Having said that,numerous similar missiles have been developed by Israel,the Europeans & we don’t know whether the Archer has been upgraded as well.