The extended Range and high average speed of the Kh-38 make it hard to reliably intercept (especially in comparison to something like the Maverick or GBU-8 / -15) also the lack of TWS doesn’t help for Pantsir counterparts doesn’t help alert you to launches, and provides comfortable standoff range against most expected threat SAM / SPAA systems, also systems that could threaten it currently aren’t likely to be implemented due to being multi-unit TEL systems (e.g. MIM-23, Rapier FSC, MIM-104 etc. ), or static emplacements.
Access to large caliber HE rockets & CCIP means that rocket runs are also much more forgiving and deadly than the 70mm / 5" HEAT that most other nations have at best.
In comparison to most other dedicated strike Airframes (e.g. AMX, A-7, A-10, Alpha Jet, etc.) it’s comparable in speed and climb rate at relevant altitudes.
Russian Teams at the BR tend to have fairly flexible and well constructed lineups, and the near certain presence of the Pantsir (or two) which can significantly complicate the capabilities of threat interceptors.
4x9Ms is such a good kit if you think about it for a second. Whenever I fly 13.7 F-16 for instance I always take 2 of them just because probablity of kill on those dum dums hugging the deck is something like 80% from my experience, since
A) Those people know jackshit about how seeker shutoff is actually defeated.
B) Even if they do, most of the time they panic spam flares and (maybe!) try to turn slightly, while higly compressed by speed. Goes as expected.
As for 11.7-12.0 bracket, aka THE premium blackhole (maybe a bit less so after hornet release/f20 changes, but still), filled to the brim with 23ML’s bombing bases and such, what makes you think people down there know/do any better?
