First Foreign Buyer for Su-57
According to press reports circulating in northern Africa last week, Algeria has signed firm contracts to procure 14 Su-34 combat aircraft and a similar number of Su-57Es from Russia.
Delivery of both types is said to be envisaged for 2025, by which time the Algerian armed forces will field two wings of Su-30MKA and one squadron each of Su-57, Su-35 and MiG-29M2 in the air superiority role, while the ground attack fleet will feature two squadrons of upgraded Su-24s and one of Su-35s.
According to the reports, the decision to procure the Su-57E was made by the Algerian leadership during the MAKS 2019 air show in Moscow in August. Already in series production for the Russian military, which expects to receive a total of 76 aircraft by 2028, the Su-57 (NATO reporting name FELON) has been specifically designed for the air superiority and air dominance missions. The Algerian procurement makes the North African nation the first foreign recipient of the fifth-generation aircraft.
