Mysterious Su-34 Fighter-Bomber with Desert Camouflage Spotted in Flight: First Sign That Russia May Have Finalized Its Sale to the Algerian Air Force?

Just over a month and a half after a series of satellite images indicated that Russia may have completed the transfer of Su-35S fighters to the Algerian Air Force, new evidence suggests that military cooperation between Moscow and Algiers has taken another step forward. This comes in the wake of a video showing a test flight of a mysterious Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber, notable for its desert-tone camouflage paint scheme—typical of aircraft operated by forces active in such geographic environments.

Currently, Russia and Algeria maintain strong military cooperation ties. Over the years, this relationship has been reflected in the supply of some of Moscow’s most advanced systems and combat platforms to the armed forces of the North African nation.

The most recent examples appear to focus on the renewal of Algeria’s combat aircraft fleet, which is largely equipped with Russian-made aircraft such as the Su-30MKA and MiG-29S/M/M2, complemented by Su-24MK2 strike/reconnaissance aircraft and Yak-130 advanced trainers.

However, as previously reported, Algeria may have become the new operator of one of Russia’s most advanced fighter jets, having received the first Su-35S units that were originally manufactured for Egypt. In addition, reports suggest that the country could be the first international operator of the export version of the Su-57 Felon stealth fighter (designated Su-57E).

Given this background, the flight of a Su-34 aircraft at the Novosibirsk production plant caught the attention of the Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) community. Unlike those delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), this particular unit featured a distinctive desert camouflage paint scheme, consistent with patterns seen in North African and Middle Eastern countries.

Following the viral spread of the video—which does not reveal many details beyond the aircraft’s unique paint job—speculation has emerged suggesting that Russia may have finalized its first sale of Su-34 fighter-bombers to a foreign operator.

As of today, the arguments presented by the community indicate that Algeria could be this first operator, in line with the previously mentioned Su-35S transfers and the potential acquisition of the Su-57E. However, some versions also claim that Iran may have acquired these aircraft. It is also worth noting that this particular Su-34 may have been prepared for demonstration flights at airshows and international defense expos, intended for promotional purposes in those regions.

Lastly, no official statements or announcements have been made by Russian sources, such as the Ministry of Defense, the Rostec conglomerate, or the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), to clarify why this Su-34 was conducting flights with such a unique paint scheme.

Cover photo used for illustrative purposes only.

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