Algeria Poised to Receive Advanced Russian Su-34 Bomber, Modernizing Air Force
Algeria is about to receive a first Su-34 Fullback tactical bomber, ordered from Russia about ten years ago.
Algeria’s intention to order fourteen new Su-34 Fullback tactical bombers from Russia to modernize part of its Su-24 "Fencer" attack aircraft had been revealed in 2016 by Sergei Smirnov, the general director of the Novosibirsk Aviation Production Association (NAPO) plant, a subsidiary of the Sukhoi manufacturer. The Algerian authorities have never confirmed the information.
Nearly ten years later, Russia is about to deliver these aircraft to Algeria, according to Opex360. Photos taken at Zhukovsky Airport, near Moscow, show an aircraft of this type with a different camouflage than that of the Russian Aerospace Forces, suggesting that this Su-34 is intended for Algeria, the only country that has expressed interest in this bomber.
Designed in the early 1990s, the Su-34 Fullback was developed from the Su-27IB. This twin-engine aircraft, nicknamed the "flying tank", has a range of 4,000 km, a weight of 45.1 tons (including payload) and 17 mm armor. It can carry more than 8 tons of ammunition (bombs, air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles). The Su-34 is also equipped with a terrain-following radar, a laser guidance and designation system, and electronic countermeasures.
According to persistent sources, Algeria would also plan to acquire a batch of fourteen fifth-generation Su-57E Felon fighter-bombers. The Algerian government has not yet confirmed the purchase of this model. However, Algerian national television is said to have mentioned an order for six aircraft, two of which are expected to be delivered in 2025, and that an order for eight more could follow.