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- High deliveries: fifth-generation Su-57 fighters will be the first to be received by Algeria
High deliveries: fifth-generation Su-57 fighters will be the first to be received by Algeria
Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighters will be supplied to Algeria, the African country's state television announced. It also reported that Algerian pilots have already started training in Russia. Our countries are linked by a long history of military-technical cooperation. How Soviet and Russian airplanes have proved themselves in Africa and what will give our industry supplies of the latest Sukhoi abroad - in the material "Izvestia".
Soviet school
Algerian state television announced that their air force will receive the first Su-57 airplanes by the end of 2025, and that pilots are already being trained in Russia. This is an extremely important moment for Algeria - it is Soviet, and later Russian, airplanes that have been the basis of its air power for more than half a century.
Arms trade allows our country to develop and continue further developments in this area, honored test pilot Hero of Russia Igor Malikov told Izvestia.
- Now we maintain contacts with North Africa," he noted. - The countries of this region have bought our equipment before. We just do not stop cooperating with them. The Su-57 has only recently received its baptism of fire. But, in my opinion, it is one of the most advanced airplanes in the world. It has many new systems, including weapons. In particular, its missiles make it possible to destroy targets at a distance that is beyond the reach of other existing imported and domestic machines.
According to the expert, it is still difficult to talk about the export prospects of the Su-57.
- This is a subtle political issue," said Igor Malikov. - For example, we used to sell weapons to Finland, but now it is in NATO, and, of course, we will not transfer anything more to Finland. But I think that countries that are well disposed towards us will have the opportunity to buy them.
Algerian history
After Algeria's independence in the late 1950s, the process of building up the air force of the new army began. The country received its first Soviet MiG-15 fighters from Egypt in 1962. At the same time, multi-purpose Mi-4 helicopters were delivered from the USSR. It was the period of formation and training of pilots of the young Algerian Air Force. Pilots were trained both in neighboring Arab countries and in the USSR.
Already by the end of the 1960s, more modern MiG-21 fighters and Il-28 bombers were received. At the same time, for the first time Algeria also received modern Soviet S-75 anti-aircraft missile systems - the same SAMs were successfully used in Vietnam against American aircraft at that time.
By the early 1970s, the country's air force already had a sufficient number of airplanes, and this made it possible to begin providing assistance to Egypt.
In the 1970s, the Algerian Air Force also received from the USSR the most modern airplanes for those times. In the first half of the decade, MiG-21MF fighters, MiG-21R scouts, MiG-21UM fighter trainers and Su-7BMK fighter-bombers were delivered.
MiG-21 supersonic fighters
In 1973, several Algerian squadrons took part in the Arab-Israeli war on the side of Egypt. They were armed with MiG-17s, MiG-21MFs and Su-7BMKs. Algerian pilots flew more than 500 sorties in that war.
MiG-25 record
In the second half of the 1970s, Algeria was the first to receive the latest Soviet aircraft. In 1976, it received the MiG-23BN variable sweep fighter-bomber. And in 1978 - supersonic reconnaissance and bomber MiG-25RB, as well as interceptors MiG-25P.
Two dozen MiG-25s served in Algeria for a record long time - in fact, some MiG-25s are still in service. And, by the way, it is most likely that it is these machines that will be replaced by the newest Russian Su-57 multi-role aircraft in the first place.
It should be noted that MiG-25RB reconnaissance-attack fighters, as well as MiG-25P interceptors, were exported to a very limited number of countries - Algeria, Libya, Syria, India and Iraq received them in the 1970s and 1980s.
Only the countries of the socialist camp and the closest allies of the USSR could receive MiG-23 fighters.
In the 1980s, Algeria began to develop military transport aviation and acquired American C-130 Hercules turboprop transports and Soviet Il-76 turbojets. It should be noted that even before this African country replenished its fleet not only with Soviet aircraft - it chose the most favorable offers and purchased airplanes and helicopters both abroad and in Europe.
In the late 1980s, in addition to MiG-23BN and MiG-25, Algeria purchased the latest Su-24M frontline bombers from the USSR. In addition to Algeria, only non-poor Iraq, Angola, Syria and Libya had such airplanes in service.
Soviet MiG-25 fighter-interceptor trainer aircraft
In the 1990-2000s there was a real rearmament of the Algerian aviation to the fourth-generation airplanes. MiG-29 fighters were received from Ukraine and Belarus, and additional Su-24MKs and the latest Su-30MKAs were received from Russia.
During the 2000s, a contract was signed for the delivery of Yak-130 trainer fighters and multi-role MiG-29SMTs. In total, Algeria has received about 100 combat vehicles from Russia over the years.
Not only airplanes
The African country has received the most modern military equipment from Russia over the past two decades. For example, the Iskander-M missile systems were the first to be acquired by Algeria among the countries that are now members of the unofficial club of owners of the export version of this type of armament.
The Tor and S-400 air defense missile systems also arrived in this African country earlier than in any other. And the list does not end there.
Algeria has also received Project 636M submarines, which carry Club-S cruise missiles, an export version of the Kalibr missiles.
It is armed with T-90 tanks and other Russian latest military equipment. This country remains a traditional partner of the USSR and Russia in the field of military-technical cooperation and a regular client of our defense-industrial complex.
African future
And now the supersonic strike MiG-25RBs, which are considered an elite aircraft in the Algerian Air Force, will be replaced by the Su-57 fifth-generation fighters delivered abroad for the first time. There is no information yet on the number of machines to be delivered, but it can be assumed that there will be at least 1-2 squadrons, i.e. from 12 to 24 airplanes.
Technically, the Su-57s can not only complement the Su-30MKA multirole aircraft, but also replace them in the future. And then the number of aircraft to be delivered may increase.
In all likelihood, export deliveries of Su-57s will lead to the need to expand serial production. Especially since these newest fighters are not supplied for nothing, and the proceeds will definitely allow not only to increase production capacity, but also to carry out modernization work.
Both foreign customers and the Russian Air Force, where the Su-57 multi-role fighter is also in demand, are interested in this.
Earlier Izvestia wrote that during the performance at the Aero India 2025 forum, the Su-57 fighter surpassed the American analog of the fifth-generation F-35. According to experts, our machine turned out to be much better than the American one in terms of maneuverability. At the same time, the Su-57 will soon receive new engines that will significantly reduce the aircraft's visibility in the infrared range.
The Su-57 demonstration performance lasted about seven minutes and took place at ultra-low altitudes - from 100 meters. "The Sukhoi performed more than 20 aerobatics. Among them were Pugachev's cobra, bell, and corkscrew barrel roll.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
