# Algerian Su-30 crashes, killing pilot

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2025/03/algerian-su-30-crashes-killing-pilot/
- Published: 2025-03-19T16:00:37+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam and Military Africa

A Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet belonging to the Algerian Air Force has crashed in the
country’s Adrar province, resulting in the death of the pilot, according to local
reports.

The incident occurred on March 18, and footage shared on social media shows a large
column of smoke rising from the crash site.

The Sukhoi Su-30MKA is a twinjet multirole air superiority fighter developed by 
Russia’s Sukhoi made for the Algerian Air Force. A variant of the Sukhoi Su-27S,
it is a heavy, all-weather, long-range fighter.

The Su-30MKA is tailor-made for Algerian specifications and integrates Indian systems
and avionics as well as French sub-systems. It has abilities similar to the Sukhoi
Su-37 with which it shares many features and components. The first Russian-made 
Su-30MKA variant was accepted into the Algerian Air Force in 2007. Algeria currently
has 63 Su-30MKAs in inventory as of December 2023.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Algeria received its most recent batch of Su-30s in 2016/17. Five years ago, a Sukhoi
Su-30 fighter jet crashed in the evening of January 27, 2020, during a routine exercise,
in the commune of Ain Zitoun, northeastern Algeria.

The aircraft belonged to the 121st fighter squadron of the Algerian Air Force and
was on a night training mission. Both the pilot and the navigator were killed.

Algeria has been modernizing its air force, and [reports of Su-35 acquisition](https://www.military.africa/2025/03/algeria-now-operating-russian-made-sukhoi-su-35s/)
s have circulated in recent months. A video previously posted by the user “Algerian
Star Ship” showed what appeared to be an Su-35 flying over Algeria, further fueling
speculation about its introduction into the country’s fleet.

In 2019, Algeria [ordered](https://www.military.africa/2019/09/algerian-air-force-orders-more-su-30-mig-29-fighter-jets/)
an additional 16 Su-30MKA and 14 MiG-29M/M2 fighter jets for $1.8 mill excluding
weapons and training. These will complement the 58 Sukhois and MiGs already in service
with the Algerian Air Force.

ADVERTISEMENT

In March 2022, an Algerian MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’ fighter plane [crashed](https://www.military.africa/2022/03/algerian-mig-29-fighter-jet-crash-killing-crew/)
near the air base in Posfer, in the northwestern part of the country, near the city
of Oran. The MiG-29 fighter jet crashed immediately after taking off from the Bousfer
air base in the second military district.

In 2016, Algeria was interested in acquiring [the Su-34 strike aircraft from Russia ](https://www.military.africa/2019/09/algerian-air-force-orders-more-su-30-mig-29-fighter-jets/military.africa/2016/04/algerian-military-to-buy-russian-su-34-fullback-fighter-bomber)
but it seems little came of those discussions.

### _Related_