Wealth and Safety

Algeria

Arguably the largest spender on military aviation in north Africa and most of it is on Russian hardware. One of its main priorities is to strengthen the fighter fleet, with the Sukhoi Su-30SME, more Su-35s or even Su-57s, all being considered to replace around 60 MiG-29s and 40 or so Su-24MK/M2/MRK Fencers.

Bolstering the air force’s Russian integrated air defence system could see Algeria become the international launch customer of the Su-57 Felon, with a purchase of two squadrons (circa 24 aircraft) looking likely.

The air force is also considering the purchase of Su-30SME super-manoeuvrable multi-role fighters. The type is already operated in Africa by the Ethiopian Air Force and unlike other fighters in the Algerian fleet, works well sharing data and information with military aircraft, ground stations and satellites. There are suggestions that it can even be used as a mini-AWACS.

The Su-35 Flanker, a much improved Su-27 Flanker, is another fighter being considered that has played a big part in Russia’s war with Ukraine. Being multi-role with a very capable air defence capability it could be an ideal replacement for the ageing MiG-29s.

All three types could theoretically replace the 100 or so MiG-29s and Su-24s and at the same time boost interoperability.

Spending money with US companies is generally a no-go for Algeria. One recent collaboration with the US involved $1.1 billion for three intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) configured Gulfstream 650s ordered from Raytheon in 2015 ended in disaster.

Unable to allegedly fulfil the Algerian Air Force requirements, the three Gulfstreams sat stored at Will Rogers in Oklahoma for several years and have recently been sold to a civilian customer.

One would have thought that with such a heavy reliance on Russia, a Russian special mission aircraft could have fitted the bill, but obviously not.

One of the most recent purchases, made by the former Algerian joint chief of staff, General Ahmed Gaid Saleh who also oversaw the failed Gulfstream purchase, and was obviously a supporter of the US, as he secured the purchase of two second-hand civilian Lockheed Martin LM-100J Super Hercules (civilian C-130Js) in 2022. Today the current Algeria commanders prefer not to buy from Uncle Sam.

Algeria became the first international operator of Turkish Aerospace’s Aksungur unmanned combat air system (UCAS) when six were ordered in October 2022, and were presumably delivered sometime in 2023.

Egypt

The Egyptian Air Force operates a massive and varied fleet of aircraft, and like Algeria most come from Russia. The fighter fleet is made up of a mix of 200+ Lockheed Martin F-16s, 53 Dassault Rafales and 40 MiG-29s.

A $2 billion contract for 30 Sukhoi Su-35s was signed in 2018 with several seen at Sukhoi’s Komsomolsk on Amur facility but deliveries were never made.

In 2019 the US announced it was ready to impose sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanction Act (CAATSA) that would have seen the withdrawal of US security assistance funding valued at over $1 billion to Egypt.

There had been speculation the EAF was set to sign a multi-billion dollar deal with Leonardo to buy 24 Eurofighters in June 2022.

The contract was said to be worth about $3 billion as part of a bigger arms deal, valued at between $10-12 billion, which would have also included 24 M-346 jet trainers. However, the deal was not signed, and Egypt has since cooled on the purchase.

There is also a requirement to replace the EAF’s fleet of K-8Es, which have suffered from a lack of spares for the US Honeywell TFE 731 engine.

State-owned Arab Organisation for Industrialization (AOI), based at Helwan, announced on January 16, 2023 that a deal had been struck with Korean Aerospace Industries for the local production of T-50 lead-in fighter trainer and FA-50 light fighter.

The core of agreement would see KAI set up a deal with AOI for technology transfer and localisation of manufacturing for advanced jet trainers.

Morocco

Unlike its neighbour and foe, Algeria, Morocco sticks to US systems which make up much of its integrated air defence system.

France was once a main defence partner, with the purchase of Alphajets and Mirage F1s in the 70/80s, but now it’s all US.

Lockheed Martin F-16s makes up the bulk of the fighter fleet, with 16 Block 52s delivered between 2011-12. In August 2020, the US government confirmed that as part of a multi-billion dollar purchase of 90 F-16 Block 72s Morocco would receive 24 (made up of 20 F-16Cs and four dual-seat F-16Ds), with Taiwan receiving the other 66.

Deliveries are expected in 2025, and unlike the previous F-16s these will come with the new Martin Baker US18E ejection seats that are now being installed in the newer Block 70/72s.

Taiwan, Morocco and Jordan are the first to select these new seats over the Collins ACES seat. The new F-16s will come equipped with the Northrop Grumman APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 sniper pod, Terma AN/ALQ-213 EW management systems and L3Harris AN/ALQ-211 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare system (AIDEWS) that protects the aircraft from current and evolving threats.

Two older F-16Cs, probably pattern aircraft, went through an upgrade by Lockheed Martin at Fort Worth, Texas, that included the new AN/ALQ-213 AIDEWS in 2019, the rest of the fleet has probably followed suit. The new Block 72s will replace the Mirage F1s that have been retired, and the F-5E/Fs too.

Morocco also ordered 24 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in June 2020, delivery was expected to start in 2024 and completed by March 2025.

There has never been a dedicated attack helicopter serving the Moroccan military, which has relied on the armed Gazelle. The new Apaches will be armed with Lockheed Martin AGM-114L/R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, BAE Systems advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) laser-guided rockets and Raytheon AIM-92H Stinger air-to-air missiles.

Boeing announced on November 13 last year, that production of the Apaches had commenced.

Morocco has also purchased two advanced military reconnaissance satellites from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Valued at $1 billion, the deal announced in mid-August will see Israel’s Ofek 13 spy satellites delivered within five years to replace the existing Airbus and Thales space-based surveillance systems. Morocco will use the Ofek 13 to monitor its borders as well as gathering intelligence, with Algeria a priority.

Morocco already relies on a set of two reconnaissance satellites provided by Astrium France, which can image any point in Algeria every two hours.

This provides the Royal Moroccan Air Force a huge targeting tool which can’t be challenged by the Algerians, that means they can spy and designate a target in their neighbour’s territory at ease – a tool much more powerful than putting an expensive radar with limited side views on a Gulfstream.

The RMAF currently has two ISR Gulfstream 550 intelligence surveillance reconnaissance aircraft on order with L3 Systems, fitted with Israeli Elta systems. Both aircraft are being upgraded at L3’s Greenville, Texas facility.

Libya

The Libyan government has no funding to buy new aircraft and relies on donations from other countries, and the inventories of both the GNA (Government of National Accord) and LNA (Libyan National Army) that fought each other in the recent civil war (2014-2020).

Tunisia

The most recent procurement by the Tunisian Air Force has been eight Textron T-6C training aircraft to replace the Aero L-59s. The $91 million deal signed in July 2022, led to the first four aircraft delivered to Sfax air base in May 2023 with deliveries completed in August 2023.

The DSCA notified US Congress of the proposed sale of the attack version, known as the AT-6 Wolverine, but this has not progressed.

Four Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprops are also being acquired from Textron, equipped with electro-optical/infra-red sensors, for the ISR missions. The first pair were delivered in late July 2024, it’s unclear when the final pair will arrive.