It could become the first nation in Africa to fly 5th generation fighters. The negotiations initiated in December 2019 between Algiers and Moscow have borne fruit: 14 examples of the export version of the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon will fly under the Algerian roundel. However, you will have to be patient since the first copies will not be delivered for five years, with Russia being considered a priority over any customer. Algeria, on the other hand, has not found any agreement on a Su-35 Flanker-E which is less and less credible on international markets.
The Su-57 Felon and Algeria is a big story of disinformation and misinformation of all kinds. The announcement of the order was often made by Algerian media with little regard for the veracity of the facts. And never confirmed by those involved, the aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi itself or the Algerian Ministry of Defense. Except that now UAC, the parent company of Mikoyan and Sukhoi, no longer denies the contract. Even better, for several weeks the Russian media have been announcing the number of stealth planes to be delivered to Algeria.
Fourteen Sukhoi Su-57Es, the export version of the Felon, will be taken into account by the Al Qwwāt al J’awwiyyah al-J’azā’iriyyah. However, the details do not say whether the two-seater version, developed especially for export, is included in the Russian-Algerian contract. An Algerian order that makes it possible to relaunch a plane previously seen above all as a monstrous commercial failure and a propaganda tool on the part of Moscow! It is also a revenue stream for United Aircraft Corporation since the order for these combat planes amounts to approximately two billion US dollars. In these periods of scarcity for the Russian aeronautical industry, and in particular its defense branch, the revelation of this acquisition of fourteen stealth fighters comes at the best time.
At the same time, rumors currently exist about negotiations between Algeria and UAC around the Su-75 Checkmate currently in development. Aircraft which would make it possible to replace the old Su-24M2 Fencer for penetration and attack when the future Su-57E Felon is delivered in 2028 will make it possible to replace the oldest Mikoyan MiG-29S Fulcrum.
