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Russia’s Elite Su-57 Spotted Over Algeria Despite Moscow’s Small Operational Fleet
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New footage circulating online appears to show a Russian-made Su-57 Felon fighter jet operating over Algeria, indicating possible progress in deliveries to the Algerian Air Force, according to Defence Blog on February 23.
The video, shared across defense monitoring channels and social media platforms, allegedly depicts a Su-57E export variant conducting a flight over Algerian territory.
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Algerian authorities have not officially confirmed that the aircraft has entered operational service. However, as reported by Defence Blog, the footage corresponds with previously leaked documents linked to Russia’s state defense conglomerate Rostec concerning export deliveries.
Leaked contract materials attributed to Rostec indicate that Algeria signed an agreement covering 12 Su-57 fighter jets. The reported delivery schedule includes two aircraft in 2025, six in 2026, and four in 2028. The same documents reference export components intended for Algeria’s Su-57 and Su-34 fleets scheduled for supply between 2024 and 2026.
Claimed to be another footage of a Russia-supplied Sukhoi Su-57E fighter jet in service of the Algerian Air Force during flight somewhere over Algeria. https://t.co/jknAXYHLGH pic.twitter.com/YAGgnTX2GP
— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) February 22, 2026
If confirmed, Algeria would become the first foreign operator of Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter. Moscow has promoted the export variant as a central element of its defense export strategy amid limited domestic production and gradual induction into service.
Russia’s own inventory of Su-57 aircraft remains relatively small. Estimates suggest that, including prototypes and early production units, approximately 20 to 25 aircraft are currently in existence.
The Su-57 is designed as a fifth-generation multirole fighter incorporating reduced radar visibility, advanced avionics, and sensor fusion intended to enhance pilot situational awareness.
It is capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The export configuration, designated Su-57E, is adapted for international customers and may include modified systems aligned with export requirements.
In June 2024, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted the Akhtubinsk air base in Russia’s Astrakhan region, where several Su-57 aircraft were reportedly stationed. Open-source imagery following the strike indicated damage to aircraft positioned at the facility.
Earlier, satellite imagery analyzed by the AviVector project showed that Russia had concentrated most of its Su-57 fleet at the Dzyomgi airbase near the Chinese border. Analysts suggested the move may be linked to ongoing testing at the nearby aircraft plant and efforts to protect the limited fleet—estimated at around 20–25 jets—after Ukrainian strikes damaged Su-57s in 2024.
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