Su-34 Bomber in Algerian Air Force Colors Spotted at Russian Airfield

A recent image of a Su-34ME bomber bearing tail number 704 in Algerian Air Force colors was snapped during take-off in the Zhukovsky airfield near Moscow.

Russian social media users posted that the aircraft is being used for the training of Algerian pilots before the aircraft is flown to Algiers.

If the image and and the context of its flight are correct, Algeria has become the first export customer for Su-34ME bombers, perhaps the most widely used bomber in the Ukraine conflict.

Some reports say the aircraft is part of an order for 14 units of the Su-34ME besides 12 Su-57 stealth fighter. The order for both the aircraft is worth an estimated $4-6 Billion.

Earlier this week, Defense News found at least 167 cargo flights linking Russia to Algeria between March 2025 and April 2026, which the publication infers that this could to supply military good to Algeria.

“Many of the flights connected airfields associated with United Aircraft Corporation, Russia’s state-owned maker of military jets, to Algerian air bases. Several of the cargo flights also roughly coincided with the sighting of new Russian-made warplanes roaring over the Algerian countryside,” the publication notes.

In October 2025, the anti-Russian hacker group, Black Mirror leaked documents from Russia’s state-owned Rostec corporation that suggested Algeria had indeed placed an order for 12 Su-57 aircraft. The document also indicated an Algerian order for 14 fighter-bombers Su-34.

The leaked document carried the branding of AO Kret, an avionics company that supplies the electronics for Sukhoi aircraft. The avionics packages for the Su-57 were listed at around $200 million for twelve aircraft.

Russia’s state-owned Sputnik news site received confirmation of the deal from Algerian sources in late 2020 though details about price and number of aircraft has not been clarified.

Russia has officially not confirmed sale to Algeria. However, in media briefings, UAC officials have confirmed the sale of Su-57 to a “foreign customer.”