Algeria, which primarily operates Russian-origin fighter jets, has lost a Su-30 in a deadly crash. The tragic accident comes over a month after Russian state media claimed that the African country could be the first export customer of the fifth-generation Su-57 stealth fighter.
The Algerian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKA fighter jet crashed in the Adrar province on March 18, killing the pilot. Footage of the incident, which shows a cloud of thick black smoke rising from the crash site, was subsequently posted to social media. The Su-30MKA is the Algeria-specific variant of the air superiority aircraft.
According to reports, the accident occurred while the aircraft was on a regular training mission. The Algerian Defense Ministry confirmed that the pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Bekkouche Nasr, was killed in the crash. The ministry expressed the condolences of Algeria’s Army chief of staff, Said Chengriha, saying, “A military combat crashed on Wednesday during a planned training flight.”
This is the second Su-30 crash in five years. Earlier, an Algerian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet crashed on January 27, 2020, during a routine exercise in northeastern Algeria.
The 2020 crash, which also killed the pilot and navigator onboard, triggered a fierce debate on the state of the Algerian Air Force, which had recorded 19 aerial accidents in the decade between 2007 and 2017. However, there have rarely been air accidents or crashes in the last five years, sans the March 18 Su-30MKA crash.
The Algerian Air Force has been primarily composed of Russian-origin fighter jets since the Cold War era. Reports suggest that as of December 2023, the service operated 63 Su-30MKA. In addition, it also operates 39 MiG-29s and 42 Su-24 Fencers. The Algerian Su-30, for one, also conducted a flypast on the occasion of the country’s ‘November 1 Revolution,’ as previously reported by the EurAsian Times.
The Su-30MKA is a twin-engine air superiority fighter designed for Algeria. Algeria first ordered the Su-30MKA in 2006 and placed more orders in subsequent years, bringing the total number of aircraft ordered to 70.
Algeria has made air superiority a strategic priority, particularly since the 2011 NATO war effort against neighboring Libya made it imperative to deter potential Western attacks.
For this African state, Russia has remained a consistent source of arms despite the hurdles through the years, including the chaos of the Ukraine war, which led to international sanctions imposed on Moscow.
The Su-30MKA’s crash came weeks after Algeria acknowledged that it had placed a purchase order for the Russian Su-57 aircraft.
Move Over Su-30, Algeria Could Get Su-57
Algeria’s state-run media announced that the country had become the first export customer for Russia’s Su-57 Felon fifth-generation stealth fighter. A video of the broadcast was posted to social media, but there was no official confirmation from Moscow or Algiers.
Algeria’s national media network announced the purchase of Su-57s and added that Algerian pilots were receiving training on the fighter in Russia. However, the channel stopped short of specifying the number of aircraft on order and the cost.
The news barely came as a surprise since speculations were rife that Algeria could become the first customer of the Su-57. An official confirmation is still awaited.
The state arms exporter Rosoboronexport first announced the first export order for the stealth aircraft in November 2024 while concealing details about the mysterious buyer. As the news about the aircraft’s first export order broke, social media was set abuzz with conjectures that Algeria had likely inked an agreement with Rosoboronexport, as previously reported by the EurAsian Times.
According to unverified reports, Algeria might initially purchase only six Su-57s. There is currently no information on the exact schedule of delivery of the fighter jet, but reports suggest that the country may receive the first fighter by the end of this year.
Nevertheless, the purchase has caused jubilation in Russia, which has been struggling to attract buyers for its most advanced stealth aircraft due to a host of issues, including a protracted war in Ukraine, which has affected the production of aircraft, and the fact that the aircraft has not demonstrated its capability in combat in Ukraine.
Algeria’s acquisition will boost its air power, drastically alter the balance of power in the region, and strengthen its influence. No other African air force would be able to match the Su-57’s capabilities, including a smaller radar signature, supersonic cruising speed, great agility, and a modern sensor suite.
Moreover, the purchase could also revive the fortunes of the aircraft and the Russian arms exporter by igniting the interest of potential buyers looking to upgrade their air fleet. Russia is currently aggressively pitching the aircraft to India, which also operates a tailored Su-30 variant, like Algeria.
Russia has also made claims about taking remedial measures to remove bottlenecks in logistics. It earlier stated that the production of Su-57 is running on pace. This could encourage Algeria to place an additional order for the fifth-generation aircraft. According to the latest reports, the Sukhoi Su-57E, Russia’s export variant of the cutting-edge fifth-generation fighter jet, is poised to enter full-scale production this year
In addition to the Su-57, Algeria has also been reported to have inducted the Su-35S into service. Though the country has not publicly announced the signing of a deal for the aircraft, reports suggest Algeria signed an agreement for two dozen of these advanced fighters in 2018.
- Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari9555 (at) gmail.com
- Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
