Our countries have a long history of military-technical cooperation.
Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighters will be delivered to Algeria, the state television of this African country announced. It also reported that Algerian pilots have already started training in Russia. Our countries have a long history of military-technical cooperation. About how Soviet and Russian aircraft have proven themselves in Africa and what the supply of the latest Sukhoi aircraft abroad will give our industry is in the Izvestia article.
The Soviet School
Algerian state television has announced that their Air Force will receive the first Su-57 aircraft by the end of 2025, and that pilots are already being trained in Russia. This is an extremely important moment for Algeria, as Soviet and later Russian aircraft have been the basis of its air power for more than half a century.
The arms trade allows our country to develop and continue to conduct further developments in this area, Honored Test pilot Hero of Russia Igor Malikov told Izvestia.
"We are currently in contact with North Africa," he said. — The countries of this region have bought our equipment before. We just don't stop cooperating with them. The Su-57 has only recently received its baptism of fire. But, in my opinion, it is one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. He has many new systems, including weapons. In particular, its missiles can destroy targets at a distance that is inaccessible to other existing imported and domestic vehicles.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Grigory Sysoev
Image source: iz.ru
According to the expert, it is still difficult to talk about the export prospects of the Su-57.
— This is a delicate political issue, — said Igor Malikov. — For example, we used to sell weapons to Finland, but now it is in NATO, and, of course, we will not transfer anything there anymore. But I think that countries that are well-disposed towards us will have the opportunity to buy it.
Algerian history
After Algeria gained independence in the late 1950s, the process of forming the new army's Air Force began. The country received its first Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets from Egypt in 1962. At the same time, Mi-4 multipurpose helicopters were delivered from the USSR. It was the period of formation and training of pilots of the young Algerian Air Force. The pilots were trained both in neighboring Arab countries and in the USSR.
By the end of the 1960s, more modern MiG-21 fighters and Il-28 bombers were received. At the same time, Algeria received for the first time modern Soviet S-75 anti—aircraft missile systems, the same air defense systems that were successfully used in Vietnam against American aircraft at that time.
By the early 1970s, the country's Air Force already had a sufficient number of aircraft, and this allowed it to begin providing assistance to Egypt.
In the 1970s, the Algerian Air Force also received the most modern aircraft from the USSR at that time. In the first half of the decade, MiG-21MF fighters, MiG-21R reconnaissance aircraft, MiG-21UM combat training fighters and Su-7BMK fighter-bombers were delivered.
Supersonic MiG-21 fighters
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Yu. Kravchuk
In 1973, several Algerian squadrons took part in the Arab-Israeli war on the side of Egypt. They were armed with MiG-17, MiG-21MF and Su-7BMK. In that war, Algerian pilots flew more than 500 missions.
MiG-25 record
In the second half of the 1970s, Algeria was the first to receive the latest Soviet aircraft. In 1976, he launched the MiG—23BN variable-sweep fighter-bomber. And in 1978, the supersonic reconnaissance aircraft and the MiG-25RB bomber, as well as the MiG-25P interceptors.
Two dozen MiG-25s have served in Algeria for a record long time — in fact, individual copies of the MiG-25 are still in service. And, by the way, most likely, it is these machines that will first be replaced by the latest multi-purpose Russian Su-57.
It should be noted that the MiG-25RB reconnaissance and attack aircraft, like the MiG-25P interceptors, were exported to a very limited number of countries - in the 1970s and 1980s, Algeria, Libya, Syria, India and Iraq received them.
Only the countries of the socialist camp, as well as the closest allies of the USSR, could receive MiG-23 fighters.
In the 1980s, Algeria began to develop military transport aviation and acquired American C-130 Hercules turboprop transporters and Soviet Il-76 turbojet engines. It should be noted that even before, this African country replenished its fleet not only with Soviet aviation equipment — it chose the most favorable offers and bought planes and helicopters both overseas and in Europe.
In the late 1980s, in addition to the MiG-23BN and MiG-25, Algeria acquired the latest Su-24M front-line bombers from the USSR. Apart from him, only the non-poor Iraq, Angola, Syria and Libya had such aircraft in service.
Soviet combat training fighter-interceptor MiG-25
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Skrynnikov
In the 1990s and 2000s, Algerian aviation underwent a real upgrade to fourth-generation aircraft. MiG-29 fighters were received from Ukraine and Belarus, and additional Su-24MK and the latest Su-30MKA were received from Russia.
During the 2000s, a contract was signed for the supply of Yak-130 training fighters and multi-purpose MiG-29SMT. In total, Algeria has received about 100 combat vehicles from Russia over the years.
Not just airplanes
The African country has been receiving the most modern military equipment from Russia over the past two decades. For example, Algeria was the first country to acquire the Iskander-M missile systems, which are now members of the unofficial club of owners of the export version of this type of weapon.
The Thor and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems also arrived in this African country earlier than in any other. And the list doesn't end there.
Algeria has also received Project 636M submarines, which carry Club-S cruise missiles, an export version of the Kalibr missiles.
It is armed with T-90 tanks and other advanced Russian military equipment. This country remains a traditional partner of the USSR and Russia in the field of military-technical cooperation and a regular customer of our military-industrial complex.
The African future
And now the supersonic strike MiG-25RB, which is considered an elite aircraft in the Algerian Air Force, will be replaced by fifth-generation Su-57 fighters delivered abroad for the first time. There is no information yet on the number of aircraft supplied, but it can be assumed that there will be at least 1-2 squadrons, that is, from 12 to 24 aircraft.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Nina Padalko
Image Source: iz.ru
Technically, the Su-57 can not only complement the multi-purpose Su-30MKA well, but also become their replacement in the future. And then the number of aircraft supplied may increase.
It is highly likely that the export of the Su-57 will lead to the need to expand serial production. Moreover, these latest fighters are not supplied in vain, and the proceeds will definitely allow not only to increase production capacity, but also to carry out modernization work.
Foreign customers are also interested in this, and, in fact, the Russian Aerospace Forces, in which the multipurpose Su-57 is also in demand.
Earlier, Izvestia wrote that during a speech at the Aero India 2025 forum, the Su-57 fighter surpassed the American fifth-generation F-35. According to experts, our car turned out to be much better than the American one in terms of maneuverability. At the same time, the Su-57 will soon receive new engines that will significantly reduce the aircraft's visibility in the infrared range.
The demonstration performance of the Su-57 lasted about seven minutes and took place at ultra—low altitudes - from 100 m. Sukhoi performed more than 20 aerobatics. Among them are Pugachev's cobra, a bell, and a corkscrew barrel.
Dmitry Kornev
Julia Leonova
