russian Su-34 tactical bombers were spotted near Zhukovsky Airport in the Moscow region in unusual desert camouflage. It can be assumed that they are destined for Algeria.
The aircraft are most likely undergoing flight tests prior to their transfer and were spotted in May this year. Considering that they have not been seen in Algerian skies before, this is most likely the first batch.
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Algeria allegedly ordered the Su-34ME along with the Su-57E and Su-35SE back in 2019, with delivery expected to be completed in 2025. However, due to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the resulting losses, the country was forced to wait six years. It should be noted that there was no official confirmation of the agreement, and definitive information about the Su-57 purchase appeared only at the beginning of this year.
It should be noted that the bombers in the photographs differ slightly from russian Su-34. They have radar sensors above and below the cockpit, as on the Su-35S, and a landing light on the front landing gear, as on the Su-57.
This partly aligns with earlier rumors from russian sources suggesting that Algerian aircraft will be superior to those in russian service. This is not new for russia, as a similar situation occurred earlier with the BMP-3 upgrades.
At the same time, the russian Air Force is still receiving Su-34s, with the latest batch delivered in August 2025. This is the third such delivery this year.
The long-awaited fulfillment of the export contract may be connected to payment delays on Algeria's side. However, a more common theory holds that after recovering from its losses in the war against Ukraine, russia regained the ability to supply aircraft abroad.
In 2024, the russian Air Force received 12–14 Su-34s, indicating an approximate annual production rate. At the same time, only in 2025 has the destruction of five such aircraft been confirmed, with three destroyed and one lost in an accident.
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