Algeria to Receive First Batch of Su-57 Stealth Fighters by End of 2025

According to a report on February 16, Russia will provide the fifth - generation fighter jet Su - 57 to Algeria, and pilots from the country have started training in Russia.

On November 7, 2024, the Su - 57 conducted a test flight at the Zhuhai Airshow.

This news has been confirmed by the Algerian side. Algerian National Television announced that the country's air force will receive the first batch of Su - 57 stealth fighters by the end of 2025, calling it "an extremely important moment".

Some analysts point out that it is not surprising that Algeria has become the first overseas user of the Su - 57. Although the country seems relatively low - key to the outside world, in fact, its economic and military strength ranks among the top in Africa.

As one of the largest countries in Africa in terms of territory, Algeria is rich in natural minerals. It is the third - largest oil producer in Africa and the tenth - largest natural gas producer in the world.

In recent years, affected by the tightening geopolitical situation, international oil and gas prices have shown a volatile upward trend, from which Algeria has benefited greatly.

The World Bank report shows that in 2023, Algeria's exports of oil, gas and related products were about $54 billion. Calculated by purchasing power parity, the country's GDP in 2023 was about $630 billion, and the economic growth rate is expected to reach 4.2% in 2024, showing strong development momentum.

Relying on a large amount of foreign exchange income, Algeria's military construction is also remarkable. Since 2006, Algeria has continuously increased its defense investment and promoted military modernization, especially purchasing a large number of weapons and equipment from Russia.

The military cooperation between Algeria and Russia has a long - standing history. According to the 2023 yearbook of a British think - tank, as early as the Cold War era, the Algerian army was equipped with thousands of Soviet - made heavy weapons, including various types of military aircraft, warships, air - defense missiles, tanks, artillery, and armored vehicles.

It is reported that in recent years, Algeria has spent huge sums of money to introduce 600 T - 90 tanks, 16 regiments of S - 300PMU2 and S - 400 air - defense systems, 4 diesel - electric submarines, and more than a hundred Su - 30MKA and MiG - 29SMI fighter jets from Russia.

With such a long - term and in - depth cooperation foundation, it is not difficult to understand why Algeria is so fond of the Su - 57.

Foreign media reported that Algeria may purchase 12 to 24 Su - 57s, and may place additional orders later. This order will not only help expand the production capacity of the fighter jet, but also the export revenue can be used for technological research and development, upgrading and transformation. Russia is quite optimistic about the future export prospects of the Su - 57.