Algeria is looking to alter its air capabilities with the potential purchase of Chinese-made fighter jets and aerial defense systems.
Should Algeria and China finalize an agreement regarding air force procurement, the North African nation would potentially be the first African state to deploy the Chinese-manufactured J-10C multirole combat aircraft and the KJ-500 airborne early warning and control platform.
Additionally, the delivery for the purchase would be set for next year, marking a significant shift from a defense architecture heavily reliant on Russian systems.
The Algerian Air Force is reportedly adopting Su-57s in addition to its current fleet of Su-30MKA fighters, Su-35s, and Su-34M attack aircraft, as seen on DefenseWeb.
While the potential acquisition of Chinese military aircraft may not entirely supersede Russian equipment, it would serve to mitigate Algeria's dependence on Russian supply chains, particularly as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine exerts pressure on Moscow's defense industry.
