Agree with you about manned aircraft, but still have to appreciate the aerial magic of the Su-35 even though the F-35 would likely kill it many times over in a real life combat scenario. The 5th generation of tactical aircraft represent a quantum leap in technology and tactics and very few of us have a basis to render an opinion because the capabilities are new and a radical shift from what we know to be true.
Despite all of that, it is undeniable that the Russians build beautiful aircraft.
Don’t know much about planes but she’s pretty.
We had a high kill-ratio in Vietnam, both in air and ground combat.
We lost there because we had an enemy who was willing to absorb far more deaths than we were. If an enemy simply throws aircraft at us, willing to lose at a rate of 5-to-1 or more, as long as they could inflict casualties on us, at what point will our political and military leadership withdraw?