Africa’s second most powerful military, Algeria, ranked 27th globally according to Global Firepower, has finally gotten its hands on Russia’s advanced Su-34M strike fighter jets amid a growing military buildup and strategic rivalry across North Africa.
- Algeria, Africa’s second most powerful military, has received its first batch of Russian Su-34M strike fighter jets, marking a major step in its military modernization.
- The delivery follows years of speculation about the deal and is part of a broader Algeria-Russia weapons agreement signed seven years ago, reportedly including Su-34M, Su-35E, and Su-57E fighters.
- Recent footage confirmed these deliveries, which occur amid growing regional military rivalry and strategic tensions across North Africa.
- Morocco and Egypt are also expanding their militaries, with Morocco forging defence ties with the US and Israel, and Egypt diversifying arms purchases from Western and Russian sources despite concerns about sanctions.
Amid instability across the Sahel and Western Sahara, rivalry with Morocco, and fears of a Libya-style foreign intervention following the 2011 NATO-backed fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Algeria has since 2019 been linked to a major weapons procurement programme with Russia, one of the West’s key strategic rivals.
Earlier, in June 2025, Military Watch Magazine reported that the appearance of newly produced Su-34M fighter jets in desert camouflage “strongly indicates that the first batch of Su-34Ms for a foreign client is already in production.”
At the time, Algeria, alongside North Korea, the Syrian Air Force, the Sudanese Air Force and the Iranian Air Force, was considered a possible buyer.
However, the aircraft’s distinctive desert brown-and-yellow camouflage closely matched Algeria’s operational environment and long-standing defence ties with Russia..
Meanwhile, recently released footage sourced from Russian defence-linked channels has provided the clearest evidence yet that deliveries to Algeria have begun.
The footage, cited by the defence publication, thereby confirms years of speculation surrounding the deal and marks another major step in Algeria’s military modernisation programme.
The Su-34 delivery has been linked to a weapons agreement reportedly signed between Algeria and Russia seven years ago, before Moscow’s war in Ukraine reshaped the global defence landscape.
At the time, Algerian defence publications reported that Algiers had contracted 42 Russian combat aircraft, including 14 Su-34MEs, 14 Su-35Es and 14 Su-57E fifth-generation stealth fighters, with deliveries initially expected to be completed by 2025.
Defence Blog reported in 2025, during the height of speculation surrounding the aircraft, that the latest sightings indicated progress on long-delayed Russian export contracts as Moscow ramped up aircraft production despite wartime pressures and Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine conflict.
Algeria shifts towards fifth-generation air power
While the Su-34 is expected to be the last new fourth-generation fighter Algeria introduces into service, the North African military power is increasingly shifting its focus towards fifth-generation air superiority.
In September 2025, a leaked pricing table from Russian state arms conglomerate Rostec indicated that two Su-57 stealth fighters were scheduled for delivery to Algeria before the end of the year.
The leak followed statements by Algerian state media on February 12, 2025, reporting that the first Su-57s would arrive before year-end. Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation later confirmed that export deliveries would begin within that timeframe.
Alongside the Russian-built Su-57, Algeria is also expected to consider China’s J-35 stealth fighter, widely regarded as one of the most advanced combat aircraft currently available for export.
North Africa’s growing military rivalry
The latest acquisition comes as Morocco and Egypt continue expanding their own military capabilities amid a growing regional arms race in North Africa.
Morocco has strengthened defence cooperation with the United States and Israel, securing advanced drones, missile systems, Apache attack helicopters and upgrades for its F-16 fighter fleet, while also reportedly positioning itself as a potential future buyer of the fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter.
Egypt, meanwhile, has diversified military procurement through purchases from France, Germany, Italy and Russia, although its reported interest in newer Russian fighter platforms slowed following threats of Western sanctions linked to earlier MiG-29M acquisitions.
SOURCE
BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
