Africa’s New Top Strike Fighter: Arrival of First Su-34Ms Marks New Era of Algerian Offensive Air Power

The Algerian Air Force has received its first Su-34M long range strike fighters, with footage published on June 13 showing their arrival in the country. Although Su-34Ms with Algerian markings were previously seen in Russia, the aircraft arriving in the African country has an entirely different colour scheme, with its ocean blue camouflage contrasting sharply with the prior desert orange. This has fuelled speculation that either the colour scheme has been revised, or that units assigned to different bases have been given different colour schemes - potentially with desert camouflage intended for inland units while the blue camouflage is intended for aircraft operating near the Mediterranean Sea. The Algerian Air Force has received three new types of Russian fighters over the past 15 months, including Su-35s that were confirmed to have been delivered in January 2025, and Su-57 fifth generation fighters which saw their delivery confirmed in November. The delivery of the Su-57 made Algeria the first ever country to import a fifth generation fighter other than the U.S. F-35.

The Su-34 has played a particularly central role in the Russian-Ukrainian War, with the fighters having continued to see their offensive capabilities enhanced during the conflict, including with the introduction of new types of glide bomb into service. At least one type of rocket powered glide bomb was reported in October to have provided a much extended 193 kilometre engagement range, placing Ukrainian rear positions within targeting range. Su-34s have frequently been filmed launching intensive bombardment of Ukrainian and supporting Western Bloc forces since the outbreak of full scale hostilities in the theatre in February 2022, including using particularly large FAB-3000 glide bombs, bombs with thermobaric warheads, and a range of air-to-surface missile types. The Su-34’s ability to launch this wide range of munitions has the potential to revolutionise the capabilities of the Algerian Air Force, at a time when neighbouring Morocco is staging a major military buildup with significant Western, Turkish and Israeli support.  

The first images of Su-34s in desert colours surfaced in August 2025, after which the first footage showing the aircraft with Algerian Air Force markings were published in May 2026. Deliveries followed prior confirmation of efforts to significantly expand the production scales of the Su-34 strike fighter and Su-57 fifth generation fighter. In April 2025 the Chkalov Aircraft Factory in Novosibirsk, Siberia, which produces all Su-34 strike fighters, was reported to have reached double the production rates seen before 2022, with production estimated at close to 30 fighters per year. This reflected both the Su-34’s simpler and lower cost design, which had fuelled expectations that it would be easier to increase production, as well as the fact that procurements have been more strongly prioritised due to its particularly critical role in service. Overall fighter production in May was announced to have reached double pre-war levels. 

Although the Su-34 is a derivative of the Su-27 Flanker air superiority fighter, much like the Su-30MKA and Su-35 already in Algerian service, the new fighter is approximately 50 percent heavier, with its much increased fuel capacity providing it with the longest range of any operational fighter type. Combined to the Su-27, the Su-34 has a very significantly reduced frontal radar cross section comparable to that of a cruise missile. Nevertheless, the aircraft relies primarily on beyond visual range weaponry and on advanced electronic warfare capabilities to ensure survivability. Among other continuous upgrades, it was revealed in July 2025 that three variants of the Sych universal reconnaissance pod system allowed the aircraft to operate in a much wider range of roles, and collect real-time intelligence while still remaining armed for strike operations.