Summary and Key Points: Russia's efforts to secure buyers for its fifth-generation Su-57 "Felon" stealth fighter may be succeeding, with reports indicating that Algeria is close to acquiring the advanced aircraft. Algeria is considering transferring its aging fleet of MiG-29 fighters to Sudan while purchasing an undisclosed number of Su-57s and up to 70 Su-30 jets.

-This move could significantly enhance Algeria's air force capabilities, potentially shifting the military balance in North Africa and raising concerns of a regional arms race. Neighboring countries like Morocco and Tunisia might respond by upgrading their own military assets.

-Questions remain about Russia's ability to deliver the Su-57s and how African nations will finance such expensive acquisitions without compromising essential sectors like health and education.

Has Russia Found a Buyer for the Su-57 and Will it Start An African Arms Race?

Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a subsidiary of the state-owned Rostec, has gone to great lengths to line up buyers for the Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name Felon), and it has presented the aircraft – or at least scale models of it – at numerous arms shows in Asia and Africa. That included this month's inaugural Egypt International Airshow, where Rosoboronexport, the foreign sales division of Rostec, hopes to finally close a sale on the fifth-generation stealth fighter.

The efforts may have (finally) paid off, as there are reports on Monday that Algeria could be inching closer to acquiring the Russian-made multirole combat aircraft.

The Arab-language Defense Arabic reported over the weekend that Algiers could transfer its aging fleet of Russian Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) fighters to Sudan, and acquire an undisclosed number of Su-57s along with upwards of 70 Sukhoi Su-30 (NATO reporting Flanker C).

The Algerian Air Force received around 30 MiG-29s in the late 1990s as part of "a trilateral contract with Russia and Belarus," and the fighters were "expected to take on a significantly larger role within the Algerian Air Force. However, this vision changed when the purchase of the more advanced MiG-29SMT fighters was halted in 2006, resulting in the aircraft being returned to Russia," Defense Arabic explained.

Algiers has expressed interest in the Su-30MKA, after acquiring 16 of the latest export models of the Flanker, but has long been mentioned as a potential buyer of the Felon – and perhaps among the few nations that might still have confidence that Russia can produce and deliver the aircraft in a timely fashion. UAC has struggled to produce the aircraft in significant numbers, even as the Kremlin claimed that the Su-57 is now in serial production.

BulgarianMilitary.com also reported that Algeria has been steadily decommissioning its older MiG-29 aircraft, while Algiers has acquired more than a dozen more advanced MiG-29M fighters along with the Su-30MKAs – making it among the most capable North African air forces.

Changing Military Dynamics in Africa

The remainder of Algeria's older MiG-29s could head to Sudan, as the two nations forge a closer relationship but it follows a trend from Algiers to provide military assistance to its regional partners.

"If Algeria secures the Su-57 and Sudan acquires the MiG-29, the military and geopolitical dynamics in the region will shift dramatically," BulgarianMilitary.com explained, and cited military expert Alexander Goltz, who offered the analysis that the Felon could provide Algiers with "significant advantages in air operations, bolstering its status as a predominant force in North Africa."

That could signal alarms in neighboring Morocco to the west and Tunisia in the east, and be noted even further throughout the region; possibly spurring a regional arms race. Perhaps that is what Moscow hopes, as it would be more than willing to offer up the Su-57 – but whether it would be able to actually deliver the aircraft remains the unanswered question.

Of course, France, the U.S., the UK, and other nations could also be likely sellers – along with new entrants including India, Turkey, and South Korea. More African nations could soon be in the market for combat fighter aircraft if Algeria looks to bolster its air fleet.

But given the price tag for the Su-57 – and even other options – the final question is how these nations can buy the aircraft without cutting spending in other sectors, notably health and education.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

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