Su-57 = TAK-50.
Russian commitment to the continued rule of the the Syrian despot Assad now can be seen as long-term and without question so?
In finality one more blog entry an extract from the latest edition of the DEBKAfile news letter with my commentary:
"Russia's topline Su-57 deployed to Syria to challenge US, Israeli air might"
23 February.
"Two fifth-generation Sukhoi-57 stealth fighters landed Monday, Feb. 19 at Russia's Syrian air base, along with 4 Su-35 fighters, 4 Su-25 strike aircraft and an A-50U radar command-and-control platform."{
"This top-performance fleet raises Russia’s air strike and defense capabilities in Syria to the highest standards of any air force in the world, with enough power to take on US and Israeli air might in the Syrian arena. The Su-57's weapon bays are designed to carry Russia’s new nuclear tactical X-50 air-launched cruise missile, although it is not known whether the aircraft in Syria are carrying them."
"DEBKA . . . military sources see President Vladimir Putin's decision to send the Su-57 fighters to Syria as substantially raising the big power stakes in Syria"
Beware this situation. Things can spiral out of control and in the proverbial heartbeat. Beware!
coolbert.