Algeria Hosts Russian Military-Technical Cooperation Director to Finalise Su-57 Deal - Reports

The Director of the Federal Commission for Military and Technical Cooperation, Dimitry Shugayev, reportedly arrived in the Algerian capital Algiers on September 28th for talks with the African state’s Chief of Staff Saïd Chengriha. Algeria has long been Russia’s closest defence partner on the African continent, and is the second largest client for Russian armaments in the world after India. Giving a strong indication as to the subject matter of the talks being held, Algerian national television notably showed Director Shugayev holding a model of a Su-57 next generation fighter jet - appearing to be explaining something about the aircraft to Algerian officers in attendance. This follows multiple reports that Algeria has placed orders for Su-57 fighters to replace its ageing MiG-25 Foxbat interceptors, with the size of the order estimated at around 14 aircraft. A mural at the Algerian Defence Ministry, first publicly shown in September, also showed Algerian forces advancing with a Su-57 fighter flying overhead - a strong indicator that a deal had already been made with Director Shugayev thought to have been finalising the details during his visit. 

The Su-57 entered serial production in July 2019, and is a highly ambitious next generation design which is set to incorporate a wide range of sixth generation technologies such as hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence and offensive laser weapons. The aircraft in its current form is considered a heavyweight fifth generation platform, although it integrates several technologies which other fifth generation jets have yet to utilise ranging from three dimensional thrust vectoring engines to laser defence systems and hypersonic air to air missiles. Algeria has heavily prioritised developing a strong air defence capability since 2011, when an unexpected NATO  bombing campaign devastated its neighbour Libya and exploited the country's lack of viable fighters, interceptors or surface to air missile systems. With NATO member states inducting growing numbest of fifth generation F-35 fighters into service, and developing sixth generation fighters under multiple separate programs, the Su-57 will ensure Algeria can retain qualitative parity for several years to come. The new fighter’s very considerable potential to incorporate upgrades over the coming decades, much as the MiG-25 has over its 42 years in Algerian service, will ensure that the jets can serve for several decades and will be an effective investment.