Algeria to Purchase 14 Russian Sukhoi Su-30 Fighter Jets

Algeria has signed contract with Russia to buy 14 Sukhoi Su-30 Fighter Jets for an estimated price of US$500 million.

Algeria already has 44 of Russia's heavy multi-role Su-30 fighter jets in service. A total of 28 of the planes were delivered under a 2006 contract. Further, 16 more were delivered under a 2010 contract. 

The latest Algerian Su-30 contract was signed in the spring of 2015. The cost of an Su-30MKI fighter is estimated to be about US$30 million excluding the cost of spares and servicing.

The Algerians are expected to receive their fighters in 2016 and 2017, Sergei Chemezov, the head of Rostec said at the 2015 Russian Arms Expo in Nizhny Tagil.

The deal is the second contract announcement this week for new Su-30 fighters. The fighters are manufactured by the Irkut aircraft company, a subsidiary of the larger state-owned United Aircraft Corporation. 

Another delivery contract was signed for eight recent Su-30SM variants by Irkut and the Russian Defence Ministry on Tuesday. The eight planes were being purchased for the Russian Navy, which operates the Su-30 as a maritime strike aircraft out of Crimea. However, “a larger 75-fighter contract was arranged for the air force”, Deputy Defence Minister for Procurements Yury Borisov said Tuesday.

The Su-30, generation 4+ fighter, is less advanced than the Su-35 multi role fighter, which is classified as generation 4++ fighter.