Algerian Air Force Su-34 fighter-bomber.
The Algerian Air Force is the aerial arm of the Algerian People’s National Army.
Its history begins with the creation by Saïd Aït Messaoudène, during the war of independence, of a first nucleus of air force with the training of Algerian pilots and personnel from friendly countries. This nucleus officially gave birth in 1962, the day after independence, to the Algerian Air Force.
Major General Mahmoud Laraba was appointed Commander of the Air Force in July 2020, succeeding Major General Hamid Boumaïza. On February 23rd, 2025, Major General Zoubir Ghouila took office as Commander of the Air Force, replacing Mahmoud Laraba.
History
The Algerian Air Force was created to support the fight of the People’s National Army against the French occupying forces. It came as part of the decisions of the Soummam congress held on August 20th, 1956, which recommended a long-term plan to form a modern army.
Before 1962
In 1957, six Algerians were sent for training to the Syrian Arab Air Force flight school at Nayrab near Aleppo. During this period, training also took place with the Egyptian and Iraqi air forces, as well as in the USSR and in China. During this period, the French army started the Challe and Morice lines used to isolate the ALN fighters inside the country and to stop supplies coming from Tunisia and Morocco. Then came the idea to train transport and helicopter pilots to ensure supplying the national liberation army, and to prepare the first core of the military aviation. The Algerian Air Force was officially established on 4th February 1959, as a part of the FLN.
From 1962 to 1970
The Algerian Air Force was originally based at Maison Blanche (White House). In 1962, Egypt transferred 12 Helwan Gomhouria trainers and five MiG-15s (two MiG-15UTIs and three MiG-15bis), together with a group of advisors to help with training. Several Mil Mi-4s were also received from the Soviet Union. Two Beech D.185S light transports purchased for the personal use of then President Ben Bella in 1963.
Training was one of the major preoccupations of the ALN/FLN leaders. Military aviation had a core of pilots and technicians after independence, who laid the foundations of the present Air Force. The Algerian authorities sent trainees to friendly countries such Egypt, Syria, Iraq, China, and the USSR, while waiting for the creation of Algerian Air Force schools. In 1966, the Air Base of Tafraoui in the 2nd Military Region was built as an air officers’ school (EOA) where the first officer students were received to train as pilots and technicians in aeronautics.
Algerian Air Force MiG-21 Light Fighter
The nascent Algerian Air Force participated in the 1963 Sand War with Morocco. However, air power did not play a big role during the war. MiG-15s and Mi-4s were used, and aircraft from national company Air Algérie served for transport duties. Following the end of the war, the build-up of the Algerian Air Force was intensified. In 1964, 20 additional MiG-15bis fighters were delivered by the USSR. The next year, the first of at least 30 MiG-17s arrived in Algeria. In 1965–1966, 24 MiG-21F-13s were received, and 14 Ilyushin Il-28s were ordered in the same period, as well as some MiG-21FLs. Despite its growth, at the time of the Six-Day War the Algerian Air Force was not deemed combat ready. Still, 20 MiG-17Fs, 20 MiG-21s and 12 Il-28s were sent to Egypt, but without any crews. In 1967, the Algerian Air Force also bought its first surface-to-air missile systems, with two battalions of S-75 Dvinas. However, these were never put into service.
From 1970 to 1980
In the late 1960s, thanks to increased oil prices and to Algeria’s economic growth, important arms orders were passed with the USSR. Hence, in the early 1970s, the Algerian Air Force received 52 MiG-21MFs, MiG-21Rs and MiG-21UMs, and 40 Sukhoi Su-7BMKs. During the same period, 28 second-hand Fouga CM.170 Magisters were bought from West Germany, as well as some Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma and Mil Mi-6 helicopters.
Algerian C-130H
Thanks to its growth in the previous years, the Algerian Air Force was able to participate directly in the 1973 October War. Two squadrons of MiG-21s, another of Su-7s and a unit comprising 23 MiG-17s were sent to Egypt. This deployment was supported by Antonov An-12 transports. Some Algerian pilots were also assigned to Egyptian Air Force MiG-17 squadrons. In total, around 500 combat sorties were flown by Algerian pilots. One MiG-21 and one Su-7 were shot down, but no pilot was killed or captured.
In 1975, another big arms deal was passed with Moscow, including 40 MiG-23BNs, 47 MiG-21bis, and 16 Mil Mi-8s. The first MiG-23BNs arrived in 1976; this type replaced the Su-7BMKs. Another arms order followed in 1978, with the Algerians requesting the delivery of 40 more MiG-21s, 16 MiG-23MFs, 20 Mil Mi-24s, and 12 S-125 Pechora missile systems. However, while 20 MiG-25s were delivered by 1979, negotiations for the remainder of the package proved much more difficult than expected, and took nearly four years. Limited quantities of Western aircraft were bought too: in 1978, six T-34C Mentors and three Fokker F27s were acquired.
From 1980 to 2000
In 1981, thanks to the deliveries of air defence equipment, a new branch of the air force was created: the Défense Aérienne du Territoire (Territorial Air Defence). Through the 1980s, the Algerian Air Force worked to build a fully integrated network of early warning radars. In 1986–1988, the Territorial Air Defence was expanded and reorganised into the Commandement de la Défense Aérienne du Territoire (Territorial Air Defence Command). In 1988, this command became a fully independent branch of the Algerian armed forces.
An Ilyushin IL-78
The resulting organisational structure of the air force was as follows:
A central command assisted by a general staff and an inspectorate, an arms division, a department of support, and specialized offices
Air commands in the military regions
Air bases, schools, training centers, support institutions, equipment renovation enterprises & defense, and control units
In the second half of the 1980s, the Algerian Air Force also introduced the wing structure. During this period few changes occurred in the combat aircraft inventory of the Algerian Air Force. Ten Sukhoi Su-24MKs were received from the USSR, while the ageing MiG-17F was phased out. A new airplane supplier emerged just after the Iranian revolution when Algeria received 18 C-130H Hercules and 12 Hawker Beechcrafts supplied by USA from 1981 to 1989.
Starting in the second half of the 1980s, the Algerian Air Force saw combat in the Algerian Civil War.
From 2000 to 2020
As the Civil War was winding down, the Algerian Air Force began to replace its older combat aircraft. The last MiG-21s were withdrawn from service in 2002. The MiG-23BNs followed in 2005, as did the MiG-23MFs in 2008. The Air Force purchased a large number of Mikoyan MiG-29s (index 9.13) from Belarus and Ukraine from 1999 to 2003. At least 25 Su-24MKs were also acquired during the same period. In March 2006, as part of a bigger arms deal, Algeria ordered 28 Sukhoi Su-30MKA multirole fighters, 16 Yakovlev Yak-130 trainers, 28 MiG-29SMTs fighters and six MiG-29UB conversion trainers from Russia. Shortly after the first MiG-29 9.19 deliveries, the Algerian military discovered that these aircraft were not newly built airframes, but older ones modernised to MiG-29 9.19 standard.
An Algerian Su-30MKA
The decision was taken to send back the aircraft to Russia, refuse all of the planned subsequent deliveries, and to freeze the payments for these aircraft. After a meeting between Algerian and Russian heads of state in February 2008, the aircraft that had already been delivered were returned to Russia, and the whole batch originally built for Algeria was bought back and delivered to the Russian Air Force. Instead, Algeria was given the possibility to order another batch of Su-30MKAs at sharply reduced prices. This was done in December 2010, when 16 additional aircraft were ordered. In December 2015, 14 more Su-30MKAs were purchased. Algeria ordered 16 SU-30MKA and 16 MIG-29M/M2 multirole fighters in 2019, a massive 1.8-billion-dollar deal.
Since 2020
In late 2020 Algerian Air Force modernized its SU-24M/MK/MR to the M2/MR2 format.
In August 2022, the final MIG-25 were retired, but in late 2022 they were brought back to service.
Since 2025, the Algerian Air Force has entered a new phase of modernization. In 2025, a deal was signed with Russia for the delivery of Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighters, continuing the long-standing partnership between the two countries. The delivery of these aircraft started in March 2025.
In addition to fighter jets, Algeria has also improved its helicopter fleet. In 2022, the Air Force received several AW139 utility helicopters from the Italian company Leonardo. These helicopters are used for search and rescue missions, transport, and other support roles.
Algerian Air Force Su-34 fighter-bomber.
Hobbymaster 1/72nd scale Su-34 Fullback Fighter Bomber 704, Algerian Air Force, 2025 available from Flying Tigers.
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Thank you for reading this week’s Newsletter.
Richard
Flying Tigers.
