Last month, head of the Irkut Corporation Oleg Demchenko said that the company had delivered 22 of the 28 two-seat Sukhoi Su-30MKA combat aircraft ordered for the Algerian Air Force. He said that the remaining six aircraft would be delivered in September.

The aircraft are part of a comprehensive $7.5 billion arms package signed in March 2006 between Algeria and Russia aimed at modernizing all elements of Algeria's People's National Army (PNA), with a specific emphasis on improving the capability of its Air Force.

Among the aircraft included in the arms deal are 28 MiG-29SMTs, 6 MiG-29UBT trainers, and the 28 Su-30MKA multirole fighters customized to Algerian requirements. In addition, Algeria retains options on up to 30 more MiG-29s. The combined value of the MiG-29 and Su-30 acquisitions is estimated at roughly $2.8 billion.

ASIAN DEFENCE: September 2009