Russia is reportedly producing Sukhoi Su-34M supersonic combat aircraft for Algeria, reinforcing earlier claims of a defense agreement between Moscow and an unnamed partner.
Analysis of satellite and open-source images by Seoul-based Military Watch Magazine identified a small number of Su-34Ms in a distinctive brown-and-yellow desert camouflage, a pattern strongly associated with Algerian operations.
Although the report mentions both Algeria and North Korea as potential buyers, the paint scheme aligns closely with Algeria’s geography and procurement history, pointing to the likely production of its first Su-34M export batch.
Business Insider Africa notes that in December 2019, Algerian defense officials signed contracts with Russia for 14 Su-34MEs, 14 Su-57Es, and 14 Su-35Es, with deliveries scheduled through 2025—further indicating that Algeria is the recipient of the newly built jets.
The acquisition is expected to replace Algeria’s aging Su-24M strike fighters, in service since the 1990s, and would make Algeria the Su-34M’s first export customer. This would bolster its reputation as Africa’s most heavily armed air force and underline Moscow’s growing defense footprint in the region.
Experts also highlight that the Su-34M’s relatively low cost—reportedly under $10 million per unit for Algeria—offers a cost-effective way to significantly upgrade the country’s strike and bomber capabilities. With its extended operational range and missile reach, the Su-34M could enable Algeria to project power far beyond North Africa, potentially into the Persian Gulf or central Europe.
