The Soviets gave inferior stuff to their intentionally-failed drone states. In a 5-to-1 fight, the US and allies would have won easily, but it would have been a war whose outcome nobody would want due to likely escalation and UN shoe-banging.
Soviet clients wanted cool-looking, impressive stuff. Just enough to scare their own population.
Russian technology is not something to be dismissed, however. Remember the T-34 and current rockets?