The Flanker "H" outflies any American plane.

The SU 30 can down a Tornado, F16 and even F15 and is the most maneuverable fighter in the world.

Also this morning, Turkey is claiming it shot down a Russian fighter and has chosen, for some reason, to release this information, largely suspect, through bloggers.

The times story, listing "Tim Shipman" as author, a name that came up in 2005 Guardian article citing Britain and South Africa as possible suppliers for nuclear weapons used against the World Trade Center in the 9/11 attacks.

Shipman has long been suspected to have ties to Israeli intelligence and typically appears when MI 5 wants an article planted.  The article, largely propaganda, from the Times:

RAF ready to shoot down Russian aircraft over Syria

Sean Rayment and Tim Shipman Published: 11 October 2015

Tornado jets are not believed to be among Russia's targets but the RAF says it must prepare for any eventuality (CPL Babbs Robinson)

RAF Tornados bombing Isis targets in Iraq are to be armed with air-to-air missiles to protect them from attack by Russian aircraft — as a senior cabinet minister warned that Britain was prepared to shoot down Vladimir Putin's jets.