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A Russian Su-57 fighter jet flying against a cloudy sky. (Shutterstock / Vladimir Vozdvizhenskiy)
Topic: Air Warfare, and Trade Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Africa, and Middle East Tags: Aircraft, Algeria, Fighter Jets, Morocco, North Africa, Russia, and Su-57 Felon First Russian Su-57 Fighter Jet (Maybe) Spotted in Algeria February 12, 2026 By: Peter Suciu
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Russia’s Rosoberonexport arms exporter indicated last year that two Su-57s had already been sold abroad. One of them may have been seen for the first time.
A video circulating on social media appears to show a Russian Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) flying over a field in Algeria. According to media reports, the short clip, which first appeared on the popular Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok, was recorded by a potato farmer near the Oum El Bouaghi Air Base, located outside of Ain Beida.
“The landscape and terrain surrounding the base are consistent with those visible in the recording,” Defense News reported,
However, The National Interest cannot confirm the video’s authenticity or its location.
About Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 Felon Fighter Jet
- Year Introduced: 2020 (limited operational service)
- Number Built: ~30–40 (est., including test aircraft; production ongoing)
- Length: 66 ft (20.1 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft 5 in (14.1 m)
- Weight (MTOW): ~77,000 lb (35,000 kg)
- Engines: Two Saturn AL-41F1 turbofans (≈32,000 lbf / 142 kN each with afterburner); future Izdeliye 30 planned
- Top Speed: ~1,550 mph (2,500 km/h) ≈ Mach 2.0
- Range: ~2,200 mi (3,500 km) ferry; ~900 mi (1,500 km) combat radius (est.)
- Service Ceiling: ~65,000 ft (19,800 m)
- Loadout: Internal bays for AAMs and strike weapons; external pylons available for non-stealth missions
- Aircrew: 1
Algeria Is the Su-57 Fighter’s First Foreign Buyer
So far, Algeria has been the only certain foreign buyer of the Su-57, with Algiers committing to purchase a full dozen of the fifth-generation stealth fighters from Rostec, the Russian state-owned military-industrial conglomerate.
Rosoboronexport, the sole state intermediary agency for Russia’s defense-related exports and imports, announced last fall that two Su-57s had been delivered to an unnamed foreign buyer, prompting speculation that it was Algeria. Defense News noted that the Kremlin had long prioritized authoritarian countries in Africa and the Middle East for business, given their reluctance to engage with human rights-dependent Western military supply chains.
Yet, the Su-57 may be going too far for Washington’s liking. The United States has threatened to impose sanctions on Algeria for purchasing the aircraft.
Robert Palladino, head of the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, issued the warning during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing—suggesting that Algerian adoption of the Russian fighter jet would automatically trigger measures under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). That is the same act that led to NATO member Turkey’s abrupt expulsion from the F-35 Lightning II program after it bought the Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense system.
Palladino suggested last week that Algiers may be open to finding a path forward, though Ankara has attempted to resolve the CAATSA issue for several years without success.
“We are working closely with the Algerian government on issues where we find common ground,” Palladino said. “At the same time, we have serious differences on many other topics, and the arms deal is an example of what the United States considers problematic.”
The Su-57 Could Tilt the Balance of Power in North Africa
Defense News further noted that the Su-57 is just part of Algeria’s efforts to modernize its military, but could upset the balance of power in North Africa and “NATO’s southern flank.”
In October 2025, Algeria confirmed it had concluded a deal for 14 Russian Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name “Fullback”), and the North African nation began receiving the Sukhoi Su-35 (NATO reporting name “Flanker-E/M”). The aircraft purchases were in response to ongoing tensions with its neighbor and regional rival, Morocco, which has adopted the US-made F-16—and could become the first Arab nation to acquire the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
If Algiers formally adopts the Su-57, Washington will find a way to supply Rabat with the F-35 to counterbalance the threat.
It was reported this month that Russia claimed to have received a “large batch” of Sukhoi Su-57 fighter aircraft, but the number of aircraft remains unconfirmed—and seems unlikely to be substantial, given the Kremlin’s ongoing procurement issues.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-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. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
The post First Russian Su-57 Fighter Jet (Maybe) Spotted in Algeria appeared first on The National Interest.
Источник: nationalinterest.org