Russia to Supply Su-34s to Algeria?

The geopolitical balance of airpower in North Africa could be on the verge of a significant shift. Emerging open-source intelligence indicates that Algeria may soon become the first export customer for Russia’s Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber, a development with major implications for regional security and strategic strike capabilities.

From Long-Standing Interest to Possible Delivery

Reports of Algeria’s interest in the Su-34 date back nearly a decade. In 2016, negotiations were rumored for the acquisition of around 14 aircraft as part of a broader modernization program. The North African nation has already demonstrated its willingness to invest in high-performance Russian platforms, most recently inducting Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighters into service.

The latest clue came from Russia’s Zhukovsky airfield, where an Su-34M was photographed wearing a desert camouflage scheme not seen in Russian service. This livery, combined with export-specific configurations, has fueled speculation that the aircraft is bound for Algeria.

The Su-34: Russia’s Tactical Bomber Workhorse

Derived from the Su-27 Flanker family, the Su-34 is designed for deep strike missions with precision-guided munitions, while retaining strong air-to-air defensive capabilities.

The Su-34M variant, which Algeria is likely to receive, incorporates improved avionics, new weapons integration, enhanced survivability systems, and compatibility with modern targeting pods.

If deliveries are confirmed, Algeria would gain long-range strike capability unmatched in the Maghreb region. The Su-34’s combination of payload, range, and precision would allow the Algerian Air Force to project power across vast distances—covering all of North Africa, parts of Southern Europe, and deep into the Sahel.

This capability complements the air superiority role of the newly inducted Su-35s, creating a high-low mix of heavy strike and air dominance platforms.

The acquisition would elevate Algeria’s deterrence posture against potential adversaries, strengthen Russia-Algeria defense ties amid Moscow’s pivot towards non-NATO arms markets, potentially drive modernization races among neighboring air forces, particularly Morocco, which has invested heavily in F-16V platforms and increase Algeria’s interoperability with other Russian-equipped air forces in Africa and the Middle East

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Conclusion

While there has been no official confirmation from Algiers or Moscow, the appearance of export-configured Su-34Ms in desert camouflage is a strong indicator that the deal is moving forward. If delivered, the Su-34 will represent a transformational leap in Algeria’s ability to conduct deep strike and maritime strike operations, cementing its place as one of Africa’s most capable air forces.

The coming months will reveal whether these sightings were a glimpse into Algeria’s near-future arsenal—or a rare misdirection in the opaque world of international arms sales.

Ukraine Confirms Downing Three Russian Su-34 Fighter Jets

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, celebrated the downing of two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve as a promising sign for the year ahead, marking the country's official observance of the holiday on December 25 instead of January 7. Additionally, Zelenskyy asserted Ukraine’s claim of destroying three more Russian fighter planes on a recent Friday.

Expressing confidence in the country's air defense capabilities, Zelenskyy praised Ukraine’s negotiation skills, its strengthened sky shield, and its defense against Russian aggression. However, his optimistic outlook arrives amidst growing worries about stalled battlefield progress and the uncertainty surrounding Western aid for Ukraine's war effort.

Russia claimed an advancement in the battle zone on Monday, asserting control over Marinka, a strategically located town west of Donetsk. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu highlighted this advance as crucial in protecting Donetsk from potential attacks.

Amid these developments, Ukraine reported intercepting 28 Russian drones while its air defense forces shot down two Russian planes overnight. Tragically, these clashes resulted in one civilian fatality and at least four injuries in various Russian attacks over 24 hours.

Ukraine marked a significant change in its public holiday celebration by officially observing Christmas on December 25, moving away from the traditional January 7. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, granted full recognition in 2019, further differentiated itself from the Russian Orthodox Church by embracing this change. Many Ukrainians welcomed this shift, viewing it as a step toward solidifying their cultural independence from Russia.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine continued, with the Ukrainian Air Force reporting the destruction of three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers in southern Ukraine on December 22, following a threatening nighttime message from the Russian military.

The Ukrainian military's General Staff stated that since the full-scale invasion began, Russia has lost a total of 324 warplanes and helicopters, marking significant losses in aircraft. Specifically, the downing of Russian aircraft, including a Su-34 fighter-bomber near Mariupol and an attempted interception of a Su-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea near Odesa, were key recent developments.

Ukraine also reported air raid alerts and confrontations against Shahed drones in various regions, including missile attacks in Odesa and the downing of a Shahed drone. These hostilities indicate the ongoing intensity and unpredictability of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Russian Air Force Receive A New Batch Of ‘Su-34 Fighter Bombers

The warplanes have been manufactured at the Chkalov Novosibirsk aviation plant of the United Aircraft Corporation (part of the state tech corporation Rostec). In a statement, the Russian government said that the aircraft had completed multiple ground and flight tests.

The statement added that the warplanes were delivered to the troops under the Coordination Council’s directives for fulfilling the demand of the Russian Armed Forces during the special military operation in Ukraine. 

eurasiantimes 

Russia's New Su-35S Arrives in Syria

Russia has deployed at least four advanced Sukhoi Su-35S Flanker-E aircraft to Syria, beefing up its air superiority capabilities in the war-torn region.
The move follows protests from Turkey that a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback bomber violated its airspace on Friday—a claim Moscow denies. In an earlier incident in November, Ankara shot down a Russia Su-24 Fencer that had crossed the Turkish border for about eighteen seconds. Following that incident, Moscow deployed the power S-400 air and missile defense system to Syria and started to arm its fighters with live air-to-air missiles.
“Starting from last week, super-maneuverable Su-35S fighter jets started performing combat missions at Khmeimim airbase," Russian defense ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told the TASS news agency on February 1.
The addition of the Su-35 provides Russia with more fighter escorts for its fleet of Su-24 Fencer and Su-25 Frogfoot strike aircraft that are operating from the Khmeimim air base, which is located in Syria’s northwestern Latakia province. Those aircraft have minimal air-to-air self-defense capability and are reliant on the Sukhoi Su-30SM and Su-27SM3 Flankers currently in theatre for protection. Russia has also deployed fourteen Su-34 Fullback bombers to Syria, but those warplanes have a significant air-to-air self-defense capability.
nationalinterest

Pentagon: Russian Fighter Conducted ‘Unsafe’ Intercept of U.S. Recon Plane Over Black Sea

According to the Pentagon, a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker intercepted a RC-135U Combat Sent “flying a routine route in international airspace over the Black Sea.
The statement indicated the U.S. is “looking into this particular incident.”
The fighter came close and its thrust “disturbed the controllability” of the U.S. surveillance aircraft.
The intercept of the RC-135U – designed to record radar emissions from potential adversaries to develop countermeasures — is the latest of a string of incidents between NATO and Russian forces since Russia seized control of the Crimean region of Ukraine in 2014.
The incident is the latest in a string of intercepts since over the last two years that the Pentagon has deemed unsafe.
The Pentagon has labeled several intercepts of variants of the RC-135 surveillance planes over the Baltic, Black Sea and the Pacific Ocean at the edge of Russian controlled airspace as “unprofessional” and “provocative.”
In 2014 a Russian Sukhoi SU-24 Fencer made repeated passes over USSDonald Cook (DDG-75), a ballistic missile destroyer, while it was conducting operations in the Black Sea.
Later that year, the Canadian frigate HMCS Toronto was buzzed by Fencers operating in the Black Sea.
Russian officials have complained of the uptick in U.S. surveillance flights since 2014.
“US RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft carry out flights almost daily,” Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, said in late 2014.
“In 2014, more than 140 RC-135 flights have taken place compared to 22 flights in 2013.”
usni

Algeria to buy Su-34

In an interview with Vedomosti, the director of Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association revealed that Rosoboronexport has received an order from Algeria to buy the Su-32 – export designation for the Su-34 fighter-bomber.
Algeria had been negotiating about the sale for eight years.
alert5

Russia deploys additional Su-34s to Syria

Russia has further bolstered its strike capability in Syria by deploying another four Su-34 aircraft to the Humaymim Air Base in Latakia province, Airbus Defence and Space imagery captured on 7 December shows.
The deployment, which happened sometime after 1 December, brings the number of Su-34s in Syria up to eight. Russia also has 11 Su-24M tactical bombers, 12 Su-25 attack aircraft, four Su-30SM multirole fighters, and an Il-20M electronic intelligence (ELINT) platform at the base. A 12th Su-24M was shot down by a Turkish F-16 on 24 November.
Russian responded to that incident by deploying an S-400 strategic surface-to-air missile (SAM) battery. The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) released photographs of two 5P85SM launchers at the base on 26 November. The satellite imagery from 1 December shows another two S-400 launchers had arrived by that date, but not the 92N6 engagement radar needed to form an operational system.
janes

Video of Russian Su-34 on a bombing mission over Syria

U.S. F-16s were about 20 miles away from Russian Su-34s in Syria

Russian aircraft had their closest run-in yet with American war planes over Syria.
U.S. pilots flying F-16s out of Turkey first picked up the Russian planes on radar. The Russians closed to within 20 miles, at which point the American pilots could visually identify them on their targeting cameras.
cbsnews

Russia warplanes head off US destroyer in Black Sea

Russian military aircraft were dispatched to head off a US warship that was acting "aggressively" in the Black Sea, Russia's state news agency RIA reported, but the Pentagon denied any unusual behaviour.
RIA quoted an anonymous source in Russia's armed forces in Crimea as saying on Sunday that the guided missile destroyer USS Ross was moving along the edge of Russia's territorial waters and heading in their direction.
"The crew of the ship acted provocatively and aggressively, which concerned the operators of monitoring stations and ships of the Black Sea Fleet," RIA quoted the source as saying.
"Su-24 attack aircraft demonstrated to the American crew readiness to harshly prevent a violation of the frontier and to defend the interests of the country."
Pentagon spokeswoman said the USS Ross was "well within international waters at all times, performing routine operations".
"The US navy operates routinely in the Black Sea, in accordance with international law," noting the Ross' deployment to the Black Sea had been publicly announced.
Russia's defence ministry was not immediately available to comment on the report.
The incident is the latest example of encounters between Russian and Western militaries, as tensions continue over the crisis in Ukraine and Russia's annexation of the Crimea peninsula, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, last year.
Earlier this month, both Britain and Sweden said that they had scrambled fighters to intercept Russian bombers near their territory.
The US said last month that it was filing a complaint to Russia over a Russian fighter's "sloppy" and unsafe interception of a US reconnaissance plane in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
aljazeera

Sukhoi delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russian MoD

Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi has handed over the first batch of Su-34 frontline fighter bombers to the country's Defence Ministry under the 2015 State Defence Order.
Last year Sukhoi successfully completed the 2014 State Defence Order and delivered two combat aircraft above the initial yearly plan.
The Su-34s are replacing the Su-24 frontline bombers which are presently in service with the Russian Air Force.
The Russian Defence Ministry has placed an order for over 100 Su-34s to be delivered to the Air Force by 2020.
The multi-role Su-34 fighter bomber is designed to attack land-based, sea- and airborne targets by day and night in all weather conditions.
brahmand

Russia Deploys 10 Su-34 and Su-27 Fighters To Kaliningrad Region

About 10 Su-34 and Su-27 have been relocated to the Russia's Kaliningrad Region to conduct bombing drills.
The crews of the multipurpose Su-34 aircraft are to conduct bombing of ground targets at an unknown firing field in the Kaliningrad Region.
The exercise is part of Russian Northern Fleet snap drills that will last until March 21 and include land, sea and air activities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to bring the country's Northern Fleet to full alert in a snap combat readiness exercise on March 16. The drills involve 38,000 military personnel, 3,360 pieces of equipment, 41 ships, 15 submarines, and 110 airplanes and helicopters.
The main goal of the current snap drills is to assess combat readiness of Russian forces deployed in the Arctic region, according to Defense Minister.
sputniknews

Russia will Add 200 New Aircraft to Defense Arsenal to Maintain Higher Operational Readiness

As NATO becomes well entrenched in Eastern Europe, Russia has decided to boost its air capabilities, with almost 200 new airplanes and helicopters to be inducted into its air force and naval branches.
Most countries do not have a fleet of 200 aircraft in their arsenal.
Russia have also reintroduced long-range military air patrol to test the strength and weaknesses of air defences of NATO-aligned nations, an act reminiscent of the Cold War-era distrust between the West and the Russians.
The Russian dominance in aircraft and space technology is well catalogued. The latest induction would see 126 new aircraft and 88 helicopters.
The aircraft delivery would include Sukhoi Su-34 bombers, multipurpose Su-30SM and Su-35S fighter jets, Yak-130 trainers/light fighters and transport Ilyushin Il-76MD-90 planes. The Russian Air Force is also expected to receive cutting-edge radar stations, such as Nebo-M and Sopka.
The helicopter deliveries will include Ka-52 and Mi-28Nattack helicopters, Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-35 combat helicopters and Ka-226.
ibtimes

Finnish Air Force reports intense Russian activity in Baltic

The Finnish Air Force revealed on Tuesday that unusually intense Russian activity has been detected over the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea in general during a major military exercise by the Russian Armed Forces.
The activity was first detected on 6 December and has continued between Sunday and Tuesday. It remains unknown when the exercise is scheduled to end.
Finnish Minister of Defence, estimated on Tuesday that the activity is clearly a show of force by Russia.
The activity has prompted the Finnish Air Force to step up its air-policing operations by, for example, adjusting the number of Hornet jets on stand-by at several airbases. Nato has similarly bolstered its efforts to monitor the airspace of Sweden and the Baltic countries.
The activity is unusual also in light of the number and types of aircraft detected in the region.
The detected detachments have included bombers, stealth and interceptor jets as well as transport aircraft.
Perhaps the most unusual aircraft is Tupolev Tu-95.
None of the aircraft have violated Finnish airspace.
The aircrafts have been moving between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad, back and forth.
In addition to the Tupolev Tu-95, Finnish jets have identified Tupolev Tu-22M bombers as well as Suhoi Su-27 and MiG-31 jets. Suhoi Su-24 and Suhoi Su-34 jets as well as Ilyushin Il-76 and Antonov An-26 multi-purpose aircraft have also been detected over the Baltic Sea.
helsinkitimes

Royal Norwegian Air Force Intercepts a Russian SU-34 for the first time

A pair of Norwegian F-16s intercepted a Russian flight of mighty Su-34 'Fullback' fighter bombers off the coast of Finmark this week. It is said that this was the first time that Norway has intercepted the greatly enhanced deep strike optimized variant of the Su-27 Flanker.
Roughly analogous to something between an F-111 and an F-15E Strike Eagle, the Su-34 Fullback is widely regarded as the most advanced tactical jet is Russia's growing arsenal. From hauling massive supersonic anti-radiation missiles, to escorting itself at low-level deep into enemy territory to strike targets with its on-board laser designator, the Su-34 is a feared asset indeed.
It is not clear exactly how many Su-34s were tracked during the Norwegian intercept, but pictures show a single example flying alongside an armed Norwegian Viper. The big charcoal gray Russian attack fighter is seen carrying just a pair of R-73 air-to-air missiles and a huge ventral drop tank.
foxtrotalpha

Russian Air Force Receives New Su-34

Russia's Southern Military District aviation regiment has received six new Su-34 fighter-bombers, renewing the regiment's fleet by 75 percent.
In the near future the SMD is expecting to receive more than 40 new aircraft, including the modernized Su-27 SM3 fighters and Mi-35 attack helicopters.
ria.ru

New batch of Su-34 front-line bombers was transferred to the Russian Air Force

Sukhoi Company has transferred to the Russian Air Force the first batch of serial Su-34 front-line bombers under the 2014 State Defense Order. The aircraft took off the airfield of the Novosibirsk aircraft plant and headed to the place of their deployment. The new bombers were delivered according to the 2012 State Contract for a large batch of Su-34s. The 5-year State Contract for Su-34s signed in 2008 was fulfilled last December.
sukhoi

Russian bombers, fighter jets spotted over Crimea

Several dozen of what appeared to be Russian fighter jets have been spotted above the Moscow-controlled peninsula of Crimea, according France-Presse.
The agency reported on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin is poised to visit Crimea for a May 9 military parade to mark Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
A local aviation expert told that he had sighted a number of planes, including supersonic heavy strategic bombers and heavy military transport aircraft, over the peninsula’s main city of Simferopol on Saturday. He told he also saw refueling tankers and MiG-29 jets.
Another expert, identified a Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jet among the fleet.
washingtontimes

Sukhoi fulfilled the 5-year state contract with the final batch of Su-34 front-line bombers for the Russian Air Force

The ceremony of transfer of the batch of serial Su-34 front-line bombers to the Russian Air Force was held today at the Novosibirsk branch of the Sukhoi Company.
The aircraft took off and headed to the place of their deployment. The Russian Air Force has already received serial Su-34 under the 2013 State Defense Order in July and October this year. The aircraft are already in service in the Air Force units.
The Sukhoi Company thus fulfilled the 2008 state contract for the supply of a large batch of Su-34 to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Currently the Sukhoi is producing Su-34 aircraft under the 2012 state contract.
sukhoi

Russian Air Force conducts largest deployment of Su-34s

Russia’s Air Force has begun a large-scale exercise in the west of the country involving the "biggest-ever deployment of the service's new Sukhoi Su-34 strike aircraft.
en.ria.ru