• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Algerian Su-57

Algerian-Russian discussions on the sale of various kinds of new military aircraft are ongoing since 2013. Algeria is now the most loyal buyer of Russian weapons systems, apart from some republics of the former USSR. Therefore, the purchase by this country of the Su-57 seems likely. The most likely "enemy" for the Su-57 fighter in case Algeria buys the plane will be the American-made Moroccan F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The Algerians were the first to receive the MiG-25 high-altitude interceptors from the USSR. After that, the provocations of the Moroccan Air Force on the border stopped. Algeria possesses the S-400 air defense system, the Pantsir-SM air defense missile system, the Iskander OTRK and other weapons systems. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Su-57 will appear in Algeria, even in 2027, and will become the first fifth-generation aircraft in Africa.

In December 2019, MENA Defense reported that Algeria would become the first export customer for the Sukhoi Su-57 and the Sukhoi Su-34. According to various media outlets the initial agreement was signed in 2019. The final contract for the Su-57 was said to be valued at almost USD 2 billion. The Su-57s were part of a larger contract, aimed at the replacement of most of the ageing fighter fleet. On top of the fourteen Su-57s, the Force Aérienne Algérienne (FAA, Algerian Air Force) is also said to order or to have ordered fourteen Su-34 fighter/bomber aircraft and fourteen Su-35 multi-role jet fighters with options on additional Su-34s and Su-35s. The total contract should be completed by 2025.

However, the Russian side never commented on the matter and nothing official was heard about Algeria buying Su-57 fighters. Subseqently, a photo of the building of the Algerian Ministry of Defence has caught the attention because it shows the Su-57 fighters operating alongside Algerian Su-30 fighters, frigates, and T-90 tanks. Many took this as a sign that the reports that had been circulated earlier are plausible.

Tests of Su-57 prototypes were conducted but a crashing incident in December 2019 slowed down the process of delivering the fighter. However, in June 2020 Sukhoi already started talking about the export version of the fighter its annual report for the year 2019. In August 2020, the producing company said that it plans to deliver 76 Su-57 aircraft the Russian Ministry of Defence by 2028. Soon after this announcement, Anatoliy Serdyukov, the Industrial Director for the State Corporation Rostec's Aviation Cluster, said that once the orders of the Russian Armed forces are met, Russia would be ready to meet the demands of its foreign clients. Furthermore, he added that they were conducting advertising campaigns.

On the sidelines of the VI International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2020, the spokeswoman of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Maria Vorobyova said to reporters that several countries have sent official bids for the purchase of the latest fifth-generation Su-57 fighters from Russia. "Despite the fact that this is a new sample of Russian military products, a number of official applications for its supply have been received already," said Vorobyova.

In September 2020 Military Watch drew attention to a curious figure, decorated the facade of the building of Ministry of Defense of Algeria. Here, along with the T-90 tank and the Su-30 fighter, which are in service with the country, they depicted the Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter. The article notes that Algeria has long been called a potential buyer of this aircraft, but there was no official information about the contract yet. The author recalled that Algeria has been the leading customer of modern Russian weapons in Africa for decades. Some of the equipment came here even before it was officially put into service in Russia.

However, no contracts with Algeria have been concluded, and nothing is known about the status of the negotiations. The industrial director of the Rostec aviation complex, Anatoly Serdyukov, said in September 2020 that until a sufficient number of Su-57s appear in the Russian Aerospace Forces, there will hardly be a noticeable demand for it in the world. He explained that the time has not yet come for export deliveries, but promotions are underway. Rosoboronexport also said that the Su-57 would not be exported earlier than in 5-7 years.

Thus, it seemed unlikely that the Algerians signed the aforementioned contract with the Russians, and there were no accompanying statements from any of the countries. But Algeria does intend to buy this plane. Moreover, the Algerians announced their intentions back in 2019. They have a real interest. They have staked out a spot and are just waiting for Russia to announce that the Su-57 has received an export license.

According to the Russian information publication Reporter in December 2020, Russia will begin supplying fifth-generation Su-57 fighters to the Algerian Air Force over the next 5-7 years. This will take place in parallel with the supply of fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces, and by 2030 the entire batch of 14 Su-57 aircraft may be transferred to the African country.

“Apparently, the first Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighters in export performance will still fly to Africa. Multiple media outlets from around the world report that Algeria has signed a $ 2 billion contract with Russia to purchase 14 of these superior, high-tech aircraft. Algeria possesses the S-400 air defense system, the Pantsir-SM air defense missile system, the Iskander OTRK and other weapons systems. Therefore, there is no doubt that the Su-57 will appear in Algeria, even in 2027, and will become the first fifth-generation aircraft in Africa," Topcor reported. At the same time, the Russian side has not yet officially confirmed the supply of Su-57 fighters to the Algerian Air Force, although today there are quite a few facts indicating that the deal between the two countries was nevertheless concluded, and the "informational silence" may be motivated by intentions to avoid the imposition of sanctions, in particular for Algeria.