Just look at the Russian Air Forces performance during the August conflict with Georgia, which according to experts at the likes of Air International, was entirely unimpressive. Here's some of the main points they brought up.
1.) Despite lacking any fighter aircraft whatsoever, the Georgians were able to establish a compact, effective air defence network over South Ossetia, which hindered Russian air operations considerably for a few days, whilst succeeding in bringing down several aircraft, including a much vaunted TU-22M3R reconnaissance aircraft (based on the supersonic TU-22M3
Blinder strategic bomber), and depriving Russian ground forces in contact around Tskinvahli with Gerogian forces of much needed air support.
2.) Russian air forces were also entirely unable to operate at night, both in ground attack and air-to-air roles, whilst the Georgians, utilising US and Israeli supplied night vision goggles, were able to conduct air attacks under the cover of darkness without loss, or challenge from Russian fighters.
3.) The Russians lacked precision guided munitions, and relied mainly upon unguided weapons, such as cluster bombs, free fall HE/fragmentation bombs and rockets, which were naturally inaccurate and resulted in considerable collateral damage, missed targets and danger to friendly forces alike.
4.) Command and control, and co-ordination between separate Russian services was poor, resulting in one incidient where a Russian soldier managed to shoot down a friendly Russian Air Force SU-25 Frogfoot with a shoulder launched surface to air missile. There was also one documented incident of Russian aircraft attacking a BBC camera crew caught on film, and further incidences of friendly fire.
There's more info
here, which surprisingly, is quite scathing of Russia's military for a Russian source. I wonder if the article earned author a severe case of lead poisoning or a Polonium sandwich for not towing the party line....
