MILITARY ACQUISITIONS
Algeria has ordered 12 Su-34 warplanes from Russia in the country latest military procurement.
Su-34 order is believed to be a component of the $7.5 billion Algeria-Russia arm deal sealed in March 2006.
In the deal Russia was to supply Algeria with military ammunition including anti-missile systems, aviation, sea and land ward defense equipment and technologies.
When Moscow deployed Su-34 on combat duty in Syria, a top military expert, Igor Korotchenko told RIA Novostin the warplane capabilities will attract potential buyers in Africa, Eastern Europe and Middle East.
Lately several African countries especially the ones faced by militancy threat including Uganda and Nigeria are likely to buy Su-34.
Such top of the range fighter bomber aircraft could also strengthen Ethiopia’s Air Force, which still operates a large fleet of aging Su-27 fighters,” Korotchenko added.
Su-34 has also attracted interest of Iraq, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan while Kazakhstan operates a squadron recently acquired from Russia.
The warplane is powered by a two Saturn AL-31F turbo-fan engines. It has a non-stop operating range of 4,000 kilometers and maximum of up-to 2,200 kilometers per hour.
The warplane capabilities; armaments include a 30-mm GSh-301 canon, and various surface to air-to-air missiles, cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship and anti-radiation missiles in addition to guided and free-fall bombs.
Su-34 is a fourth generation fighter bomber created from the frame of its predecessor (Sukhoi) Su-27 .
