American sources have started talking about the $7 billion Russian-Algerian arms deal: here are five possible positionsUS Senator Mark Rubio called for sanctions against Algeria, MWM reports.
According to US sources, Russia will sell arms worth seven billion dollars to the African country. The author of the article suggests which positions can be included in this transaction.
Five possible positions of the Russian-Algerian arms deal worth seven billion dollarsIt is reported that under the terms of a major arms deal signed in 2021, which has long been rumored, Algeria will receive new Russian weapons worth seven billion dollars.
This information was confirmed on September 15 by a report by US Senator Marco Rubio calling for economic sanctions against the African state in accordance with Washington's policy of economic war against the main buyers of Russian, Iranian or North Korean weapons. Since the beginning of the 2010s, Algeria has become the main buyer of Russian weapons, and NATO's military actions against neighboring Libya in 2011 only spurred its interest in modernizing the armed forces to deter possible Western attacks. Since such a threat remains high, a significant increase in government revenues from rising oil prices in 2022 may be used for further modernization. The Algerian armed forces are considered the most combat-ready in Africa and the Arab world, but the new opportunities they will receive under the terms of the latest deal with Russia are still unknown. Algeria is reputed to be one of the most secretive clients of Russia, while new acquisitions are not disclosed, and are often confirmed only by photographs in the country itself. At the same time, it is noteworthy that Algeria often receives new equipment at the same time as the Russian armed forces, and sometimes even earlier. This testifies to the excellent financing and close cooperation of the military of the two countries. Based on the available information and the capabilities that the country's armed forces are famous for, we have listed five main types of top-class Russian weapons that Algeria can receive.
Fifth-generation Su-57 fighter
For a long time, Algeria was considered the main potential customer of the Su-57. At the same time, the aircraft was presented as the key to the country's security, since the expanding fleet of F-35 stealth fighters from neighboring European countries will go beyond the initial operational capabilities in the coming years and will begin to pose a serious threat. In recent years, the Algerian military has been seen with models of the Su-57, and in 2020, a collage with the image of the fighter appeared in the Ministry of Defense of the country — this indicates that it is being considered for acquisition. It is reported that it will replace the upgraded MiG-25 interceptors (according to the NATO classification: Foxbat or "Flying Fox"), decommissioned in June 2022. It is highly valued for its avionics, sensors and new generation weapons, very long flight range and exceptional maneuverability.
It is expected that a batch of 14 Su-57s with the appropriate maintenance equipment and infrastructure, training, weapons and spare parts will cost about two billion dollars and provide an approximate replacement for the MiG-25. At the same time, the final cost may vary due to a wide range of options with different technologies and nodes. It is expected that the Su-57 will be exported no earlier than 2025, although the Algerian order will allow financing the current expansion of production lines for further expansion of the program. It is quite possible that the Algerian order will be delivered only after 2025, when an improved version of the Su-57M will become available — probably with new Saturn-30 engines, which will provide the fighter with much better characteristics.
Hypersonic air defense S-500
Algeria is a leading foreign operator of Russian mobile air defense systems. Its network is based on the S-300PMU-2 and S-400 systems, supplemented by shorter-range platforms such as Buk-M2 and Pantsir-SM. Like the Russian armed forces, Algeria largely expects to compensate in this way for the relatively small size of its air Force, which will be in the minority in the event of a full-scale NATO attack. The country has long been considered among the potential customers of the new S-500 system — this will take its air defense to a new level and will neutralize long-range ballistic missile strikes, aerospace aircraft and, perhaps most importantly, enemy satellites. So he will be able to "blind" the enemy's means of observation and deprive him of communication. Finally, the system is capable of intercepting faster cruise missiles than the S-400, up to hypersonic. At the same time, the S-500 is not a successor to past systems, but was developed from scratch. It complements and enhances the capabilities of the old S-400 and S-300. It is expected that the S-500 unit to cover the capital of Algeria or other strategic facilities will cost about $ 1.6 billion.
The fourth-generation T-14 tank and the T-90M upgrade package
Algeria is the second largest operator of the T—90 tank after India. Armed with a fleet even larger than that of the Russian army, he is considered a likely customer of his successor T-14. Algeria pays more attention to the ground forces than Russia. The new vehicle can either become a commander's tank and strengthen the T-90 units, or the basis of new, better equipped units. The tank is designed from scratch and is almost not similar to the T-90, with the exception of fire controls. At the same time, it boasts serious advantages over rivals: it is three times superior to its counterparts from NATO countries in terms of range of destruction and has extremely high mobility, and its much stronger armor is able to withstand a projectile with depleted uranium. Algeria can also upgrade its T-90 to a standard close to the Russian T-90M — this will further reduce the lag behind the T-14 in fire control and ensure compatibility with a number of new types of ammunition. Since tanks are much cheaper compared to new air warfare systems, the main problem when purchasing new T-14s will be the additional logistics costs associated with the operation of fundamentally new equipment, as well as the question of when Russia will be able to start deliveries, given that its own troops have not yet finally put the machine into operation.
Su-30MKA upgrade package: Irbis-E, AFAR radar, AL-41 engine, R-77M or R-37M missiles
The Su-30MKA forms the basis of the Algerian Air Force and is considered the most combat-ready fighter on the African continent: 72 aircraft are in service, the last of which was ordered in 2019. In the 2000s, the Russian development was preferred to the French Rafale, which it surpassed in almost all tactical and technical characteristics. In the Algerian Air Force, the Su-30MKA performs a wide range of functions — from anti-ship defense and suppression of enemy air defenses to gaining air supremacy and bombing. These aircraft are closely related to the Su-30SM and Su-30MKI, which are in service with Russia and India, and their design includes developments from the Su-37, a prototype for gaining air supremacy. However, without comprehensive modernization, the advantages of the Su-30MKA, however significant, may disappear within the next decade.
Russia has already offered a number of updates to the Su-30 airframe, including new AL-41 engines to increase flight range, ease maintenance and greater maneuverability, as well as new radars. These include the Su-35 Irbis-E radar with unsurpassed all-angle detection and huge capabilities against inconspicuous targets, as well as an even more powerful AFAR radar, borrowed from the Su-57. The Su-30s themselves are valued for their ability to carry large sensors, thanks to which they have formidable situational awareness in the initial configuration. The new equipment will facilitate the integration of the R-77M and R-37M air-to—air missiles - Algeria considers the limited capabilities of the R-77-1 to be the main weakness of its Su-30 fleet. The exact cost of the modernization package will depend on the scope and ambitions of the Algerian Air Force, but it may well exceed two billion dollars if it includes a full range of updates and extensive supplies of new weapons for all 72 fighters.
Su-34M fighter-bomber
Algeria is a leading foreign operator of Su-24M fighter-bombers and has 37 units in service. These are the oldest machines in the arsenal of the Algerian Air Force, and at least some of them can be replaced by new Su-34M — Algeria's interest in acquiring the Su-34 has been reported since the early 2010s. This aircraft has the range of a medium strategic bomber and carries a very large combat load. It is capable of launching counter-strikes with cruise missiles at targets in Europe and in the middle of the Atlantic, acting as a bomber using precision weapons, and even performing air defense functions with appropriate equipment. The cost of 36 Su-34M with appropriate weapons, training equipment, spare parts and maintenance is estimated at about $ 2.2 billion — thus, major acquisitions are very feasible if Algeria decides to maintain a special strike fleet and not switch to less specialized aircraft after other countries.
