Algeria, which operates the Russian-origin Su-30 and is speculated to be the first customer of the fifth-generation Su-57 stealth aircraft, appears to have secretly purchased the vaunted Su-35 fighter jet from Russia.

A recently published satellite image shows at least one Su-35 aircraft at the Algerian Ain Beida/Oum el Bouaghi Air Base. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a UK-based think tank, drew attention to the imagery.

Based on the aircraft’s color scheme spotted in the satellite images, the think tank report also claimed that the aircraft belongs to the batch of 24 Su-35s originally constructed for Egypt.

Russia produced 24 Su-35 Flanker-E/M aircraft for Egypt, which made a U-turn and called off the purchase at the last minute due to fears of sanctions from the United States under America’s Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

The appearance of the Su-35 at the Algerian air base likely validates recent stray claims regarding the purchase of the aircraft. Earlier, for instance, reports stated that a Su-35 was photographed at the JSC Sukhoi Company sporting an Algerian camouflage.

Additionally, some open-source intelligence tracking accounts claimed on social media last month that a Russian An-124 transport aircraft was headed to Algeria to deliver the Su-35M aircraft, along with a flight map of the aircraft.

The IISS report has also confirmed the above claim. It stated, “Satellite imagery of Komsomolsk-on-Amur from 2 March 2025 shows an Antonov An-124 Condor heavy transport aircraft in markings consistent with a Russian Air Force example preparing to load the dissembled fuselage section of a Flanker series aircraft. Given the apparent consistency with the Egyptian paint scheme, it is likely a Su-35.”

In addition to this, a video was also published on the social media site X last month claiming that a Su-35 was flying in the Algerian skies. The video, published by an account called ‘Algerian Starship’ that tracks the African country’s military developments, gained widespread traction on social media. 

Thus, the evidence points towards an acquisition. However, neither Russia nor Algeria has commented on the purchase of a Su-35 so far.

If confirmed, Algeria would become the third known operator of the combat-hardened Su-35 in the world, alongside Russia and China. Currently, there is no information on the number of aircraft Algiers purchased or the number of aircraft delivered so far.

The development is significant because it comes weeks after Algeria’s state-run media reportedly announced that the country had become the first export customer for Russia’s Su-57 Felon fifth-generation stealth fighter. A video of the broadcast was posted to social media.

Algeria’s national media network announced the purchase of Su-57s and added that Algerian pilots were receiving training on the fighter in Russia. However, the channel stopped short of specifying the number of aircraft on order and the cost. Neither Russia nor Algeria have officially confirmed the purchase.

If true, Algeria’s acquisition of the Su-57 will boost its air power, drastically alter the balance of power in the region, and strengthen its influence. No other African air force would be able to match the Su-57’s capabilities, including a smaller radar signature, supersonic cruising speed, great agility, and a modern sensor suite.

Though Moscow or Algiers have not officially confirmed the purchase, observers would still have expected to see a Su-57 in the African country instead of the Su-35. Algeria already operates the Russian-origin Su-30, MiG-29 Fulcrums, and Su-34 Fencers. The addition of the Su-35 and Su-57 would make Algeria a formidable regional power and give it an unmatched combat edge.

The alleged acquisition of both Su-35 and Su-57 aligns with Algeria making air superiority a strategic priority, particularly since the 2011 NATO war effort against neighboring Libya made it imperative to deter potential Western attacks.

For Algeria, Russia has remained a consistent source of arms despite hurdles through the years, including the chaos of the Ukraine war, which led to international sanctions on Moscow. However, the supply of aircraft to an African country while Iran awaits the delivery of the same aircraft may raise eyebrows.

Iran Awaits Su-35 Delivery 

Iran first announced that it had finalized the agreement to buy two dozen Su-35s from Russia in 2023 amid burgeoning cooperation between the two countries. Iran was believed to be getting the Su-35 in return for its consistent support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, including the supply of weapons like Shahed-class drones. 

Months after the reports disclosed the deal between Iran and Russia, not even one Su-35 Flanker-E is known to have been delivered to the Iranian Air Force, triggering speculation that the deal may have been called off.

However, these concerns were assuaged earlier this year when a senior Revolutionary Guards commander, Ali Shadmani, told the media that Iran had purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 fighter jets—the first such confirmation by a high-ranking official. “Whenever necessary, we make military purchases to strengthen our air, land, and naval forces. The production of military equipment has also accelerated,” he stated.

Last month, some reports claimed that Iran had received the first Su-35s on order, but no concrete evidence exists.

There is a possibility that the aircraft has indeed been delivered, as indirectly insinuated by the IISS report. It states, “In November 2024, Flug Revue published a report that claimed the first two Su-35 aircraft had finally been delivered to Iran. While the number of ‘Egyptian’ paint scheme Su-35s visible at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur site has reduced slightly in recent months, imagery of only a single aircraft in Algeria has been captured.”

All Su-35s are constructed at the Yuri Gagarin Komsomolsk-on-Amur construction site. Since Egypt refused the delivery, all the aircraft have been sitting at the site. Russia has likely decided to arm both Algeria and Iran from that same batch of fighters. However, EurAsian Times cannot confirm these speculations at this point. 

The Iranian Air Force, for one, operates archaic Russian jets and aging U.S. F-14 aircraft, most of which it acquired before the Iranian revolution of 1979. It desperately needs a new and more advanced aircraft as tensions with Israel and the United States continue to rise.

While the Su-35’s appearance in Algeria triggered concerns that the aircraft meant for Iran had been redirected to the African country instead, the IISS report said it does not rule out that Iran has also received deliveries.