Click to see full-size image. (Google Earth)
Newly released satellite images confirmed that Algeria has begun receiving Su-35s 4.5 generation air superiority fighter jets from Russia.
At least one Su-35s in Algerian Air Force (AAF) service appeared at Oum Bouaghi Air Base in the north of the country in commercially available satellite imagery from Google Earth dated March 10.
Other satellite images of the fighter jet were shared by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), U.K.-based think tank, on April 8. The camouflage scheme is the same as that applied to Su-35s originally built for Egypt which remained at the Yuri Gagarin Komsomolsk-on-Amur production site in far east Russia.
Egypt placed an order for 24 Su-35s in 2018 but later withdrew due to economic and political pressure from the United States. Previously it was said that the fighter jets in question were going to be delivered to Iran. However, it appears that at least some of the jets were sold to Algeria.
The IISS also shared satellite imagery, dated March 2, showing a disassembled Su-35 being loaded into an An-124 in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. On March 5, an An-124 appeared at Oum Bouaghi. A Su-35 was first noted in satellite imagery at the same base on March 10.
Video footage posted to social networks later on March 13 showed what appears to be a Su-35s flying right over Oum Bouaghi.
It’s still unclear how many Su-35s have been delivered to Algeria, although the IISS noted in its report that at least four other examples of the jets at Komsomolsk-on-Amur have also received AAF markings.
The Su-35s was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau to engage all types of aerial targets in long and close ranged air battles as well as to attack ground and sea-surface targets. One of the main features of the Su-35s is the Irbis-E multi-mode, hybrid passive electronically scanned array radar system. The radar can detect and track up to 30 aerial targets at one time at ranges of up to 350 kilometers, and attack up to eight of them.
In addition, the fighter jet can carry a variety of advanced long-range weapons, including the R-37 air-to-air missile, the Kh-59 land-attack cruise missile, the Kh-58 anti-radiation missile and the Kh-35 anti-ship cruise missile.
Algeria is known for keeping its military purchases under tight wraps, thus it is not unusual that the S-35s deal with Russia was not announced.
The Su-35s will likely serve as an intermediate solution for the AAF while Algeria finalizes another deal with Russia on the Su-57 5th generation fighter jet. The country has shown interest in the export version of the advanced stealth fighter jet since 2021.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
