While we're at it, my personal favorite :

F/A-18E SuperHornet


The Hornet is one sturdy piece of Aircraft, and yes... you can go out and break things with it

Hate to spoil ya, but the Berkut is a true Prototype, nothing but a technology testbed displayed to the public for Airshows only (a common Russian sales/financing strategy)

We won't be seeing this one flying 'on the line' for a long time , if ever...
(and mind you, a Raptor does have the Avionics needed to win a fight if needed, although a bit 'unmanly' due to their Stealth approach)

Interesting design though, same as the Grumman X-29 Prototype/Technology Demonstrator.

Anyway, I agree that the Russians do build some fine airframes. Too bad they lack the technology to make them true winners at the end of the day (that would lead to some more competition on the world market)

From the aerodynamic (Dogfight) and failsafe design, true.
But that's not what wins a fight anymore, a superior Sensor Platform, high Integration and a capable standoff Weapon is what brings victory.

It's mainly the lack of technology (the Russians are usually in need only for one thing : Money in hard currency) and high Total Cost of Ownership that drags them down.

Just look how long a MiG-29 Engine was designed to live before it needs costly (complete) replacement, then compare it to your typical General Electrics, Rolls Royce or Pratt&Whitney Engine.

And speaking about engines, look how far a MiG-29 gets before it's starved on fuel, then compare it to a modern western design. The Flanker was their only design with considerable range, but that had to be bought with an extremely high gross weight. They had to add their most powerful, yet most thirsty engine ever built to make it manouverable and give it some range.

In some ways it's a pity that the 'old times' are over, but even sitting in the (aerodynamically) best plane is of little use, if you end up soaking a stand-off Missile supported by a Phased Array low-emmision Sensor platform, built inside a stealth Aircraft.
You won't even know what hit you.

Agreed

Dogfighting one of those is not going to be easy, close-in I'd call it a 7:3 win for the flanker in a 1 v 1 guns-only scenario.

PS.
Tracking a large number of Aircraft is nothing difficult to advertise with, but that feature usually becomes "relative" in a dense ECM environment, and without superior range weapons becomes a mere checkmark feature

Trust me, things become alot more difficult and relative once you are able to look behind advertising numbers.

PPS,
You do realize you keep talking about non-operational Prototypes ?
Except in Simulators, those Aircraft likely won't win a single fight as of now.

Firing a Missile backwards is (theoretically) possible, but brings a hell lot of Problems with it.

Unfortunately, I cannot go more into detail from this point on.

You shoudn't believe everything you read or hear I would suggest

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Both. But Flight Sim's on a Military Airbase , Flight Sims at home and in real life
I flew the Belgian Angusta Flight Sim once, He said I could get that thing flying within 3 weeks. But that's gonna cost me way to much money.

I know a few F-16 Pilots here in Holland and Belgium.
And they always had alot of trouble in dogfights against Su-27 and Mig-29 planes even with thier advanced Avionics.

Belgian Air Force Pilot  "Koen" he flies the GD F-16-C , and he trained always with the Germain Mig-29's, He told me this:
"The Mig-29 is the one most difficult opponents I ever met in a dogfight" Anyway I never see him much, But He invited me for a flight in the Belgian Air Force F-16 Flight Simulator next year. He'll contact me when he has time. The Air Force Base is located in Luik - Luige

The Other Pilot a Know is an ex-F-104 Starfighter Pilot, he also flew the Northrop NF-5A, F-16-A, Hawker Hunter and the F-86 in the Royal Netherlands Air Force and now he flies a Cessna 172, he has retiered from the Airforce for a few years now.

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True words 

Although these 'destructive' planes sure are nice looking machines in some way.  Some people like collecting 3dfx boards, some like military airplanes and some...like BOTH   
Anyway you are truly right there. The medal sure has a 'black' side. When such an airplane needs to do what it needs to do, it can get very nasty.