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It might be quite bitter to admit but in terms of aviation Russian advantage is not that overwhelming over PLA air force.... moreover if we consider where the trend goes Russian government had to order Russian corporations to strip warplanes sold to China of the most advanced avionics and engines.
I remember one Russian aviation general admited in 1997 that there out of around 2,000 combat and combat support aircrats, only 600 are operational withouth any repairs, another 800 can be made operational after some repair and remaining most probably be scrapped if not take care of in near years (it was in 1997). Around 500 of the combat planes are from 3rd generation and need to be sold out....
He also told that average flight hours a russian pilot has in a year was 40, but if you take out hours of strategic bombers and cargo planes, then what is left is really small.....
I think it is not possible to get reliable information about actual size of Russian Air Force. It is state secret. Secret not from enemy but from Russian people so that they don't panic much...
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