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The Su-57 Does Not Create Algeria’s Air Power: It Merely Adds a New Layer to a Decades-Long Advantage

Since the announcement that Algeria has begun integrating the Su-57 into its air force, parts of the Moroccan media have portrayed the event as a dramatic shift in the regional balance of power. The underlying narrative is that Algeria’s air superiority is a recent phenomenon, supposedly created by the arrival of a fifth-generation fighter.

This interpretation overlooks decades of military development.

The reality is that Algeria's qualitative edge in air power did not begin with the Su-57. It is the result of a long-term strategy aimed at building a modern, independent, and credible air force capable of protecting Africa's largest country, securing vast borders, and safeguarding critical national interests.

Algeria's Air Superiority Predates the Su-57 by Decades

When Algeria introduced the MiG-25 in the 1980s, it already possessed interception capabilities unmatched in the Maghreb. At the time, the aircraft's speed, altitude, and interception performance provided Algeria with a significant technological advantage.

Since then, Algeria has pursued a consistent modernization policy, investing continuously in advanced air combat capabilities. This approach led to the acquisition of the Su-30MKA, followed by the integration of the Su-35, the Su-34, and eventually the Su-57.

Rather than representing a sudden leap, the Su-57 is simply the latest step in a modernization process that has been unfolding for more than four decades.

The Mistake of Reducing Algeria’s Air Power to the Su-57

A common misconception is to view the Su-57 as the sole source of Algeria's military strength.

No serious air force relies on a single aircraft.

Air power is measured through a combination of factors:

  • Number of operational aircraft.
  • Quality of weapons and munitions.
  • Pilot training and combat readiness.
  • Electronic warfare capabilities.
  • Integrated air defense systems.
  • Logistics, maintenance, and operational sustainability.

In this context, the Su-30MKA remains the backbone of Algeria's fighter fleet. As a heavy multirole aircraft, it offers exceptional range, payload capacity, and flexibility across a wide spectrum of missions.

Consequently, focusing exclusively on the Su-57 provides an incomplete picture of the actual balance of air power in North Africa.

The Often-Ignored Assets: Su-35 and Su-34

Much of the public debate revolves around the Su-57 while overlooking other aircraft that are equally significant.

The Su-35 is widely regarded as one of the most capable 4++ generation fighters in service today. Its maneuverability, radar capabilities, long-range engagement capacity, and heavy weapons load make it a formidable air superiority platform.

The Su-34, meanwhile, dramatically enhances Algeria's deep-strike capabilities. Designed as a tactical strike aircraft, it can carry substantial payloads over long distances while operating in heavily defended environments. Its introduction greatly expands Algeria's ability to conduct precision strikes and long-range operations.

In practical terms, even without the Su-57, the combination of the Su-30MKA, Su-35, and Su-34 would already constitute one of the most powerful air combat fleets on the African continent.

The Myth of the Moroccan F-16

For years, Moroccan media and official narratives have highlighted the modernization of the Royal Moroccan Air Force's F-16 fleet as evidence of strategic parity with Algeria.

However, the discussion often blurs the distinction between current operational capabilities and future modernization plans.

While Morocco has pursued ambitious modernization programs for its F-16s, public discourse frequently presents projected capabilities as if they were already fully operational. This creates a perception that does not always align with the realities of fleet readiness, aircraft numbers, maintenance, pilot availability, and overall force structure.

More importantly, comparing one aircraft type against another misses the larger point. Military effectiveness is determined by the performance of an entire system, not by isolated platforms.

Algeria's air power rests on a broader ecosystem that combines heavy fighters, long-range strike aircraft, advanced air defenses, electronic warfare assets, and strategic depth.

The Real Advantage: Algeria's Long-Term Strategic Vision

What truly sets Algeria apart is not merely the acquisition of advanced aircraft.

The key difference lies in a long-term strategic vision that has guided defense planning for decades.

This vision is based on:

  • Maintaining an independent national defense policy.
  • Building a diversified and layered military capability.
  • Continuously modernizing air and air-defense assets.
  • Preserving strategic deterrence.
  • Protecting national sovereignty without relying on foreign security guarantees.

Algeria has consistently viewed military modernization as a matter of national security rather than political marketing.

Conclusion

The Su-57 does not mark the beginning of Algeria's air superiority. It represents the latest milestone in a process that started decades ago.

Those who portray the aircraft as a sudden game-changer often ignore the broader reality: Algeria's air power was not built overnight. It is the product of sustained investment, strategic planning, technological modernization, and the development of highly capable armed forces over several generations.

The real question is therefore not what the Su-57 adds to Algeria's military power.

The real question is why some observers choose to ignore four decades of steady military development and act as though the story began only now.


By Belgacem Merbah


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