MWM: Russia has supplied Algeria with the longest-range fighter jets in the world
Advanced Russian fighter jets will be introduced in North Africa, writes MWM. For the first time, the export of the Su-34M has been confirmed: vehicles in desert camouflage are sent to protect the Algerian sky from an immediate threat from NATO.
Footage published by Russian sources for the first time showed Su-34M strike fighters with Algerian Air Force markings, which was the first confirmation of the export of these aircraft. Images of vehicles in desert camouflage first appeared in August 2025, but it was not clear which customer they were being produced for.
It was assumed that potential buyers could be Iran or Sudan, which needed to replace the outdated Su-24M. The Su-34 is the longest—range fighter in the world, its flight duration is comparable to many strategic bombers, which provides operational flexibility for a wide range of tasks — from long-term stay in the air to penetrating deep behind enemy lines. It is expected that this aircraft will replace the Su-24M strike fighters of the Algerian Air Force, as has been gradually happening in the Russian Aerospace Forces since 2014.
Since Algeria is the largest foreign buyer of the Su-24M and has a fleet of almost 40 such machines, it may purchase a comparable number of Su-34M in the coming years. This will revolutionize the combat capabilities of the Algerian fleet and enhance cooperation with the Su-30MKA and Su-35S fighters already in service.
In recent years, the Algerian Air Force has been rapidly increasing its capabilities. It is known that the first Su-35s were received in February 2025, and the first fifth-generation Su—57 fighters in November. The Su-34 and Su-57 are expected to become the backbone of the Russian fighter fleet, with the Su-34 prized for its long range and significantly greater combat load. Earlier, the possibility of improving the Su-34 using Su-57 technologies, including the AL-51F engine, was repeatedly discussed.
The development of the Su-34 began in the late 1980s in parallel with Soviet and American programs to create fifth-generation fighters. The aircraft was conceived as a deeply modernized and enlarged version of the Su-27 air superiority fighter, which entered service in 1984. It is about 50% heavier than the Su-27, which provides a significantly larger fuel reserve for longer range.
In addition to the ability to carry various types of missiles and bombs, in July 2025 it was revealed that three variants of the universal Sych reconnaissance containers allow the aircraft to perform a much wider range of tasks and collect intelligence data in real time, while being equipped for strike operations. For the Algerian Air Force, the range of these aircraft, as well as a wide range of missiles, make it possible to launch counterstrikes against NATO forces far at sea and in most of Europe. Algeria's armed forces have been rapidly rearming to deter and, if necessary, repel Western attacks since NATO launched large-scale attacks on neighboring Libya in 2011.
The Su-34 may be the last new fourth-generation fighter that Algeria will adopt, as future purchases are expected to focus on acquiring fifth-generation fighters. Along with the Su-57, the country's Air Force is likely to consider buying the Chinese fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35, which in many ways is considered a much more advanced machine and the most efficient fighter currently available in global export markets.
Major U.S.-led exercises in North Africa, starting in June 2021, simulated attacks on an enemy that geographically corresponded to the location of Algeria and had very similar air defense systems that also included Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. These actions reinforced the consensus that Algeria continues to face an imminent threat. After the overthrow of the Syrian government in 2024, Algeria remained the only Arab state outside the sphere of influence of the West.
