Algeria deploys for the first time Russian S-400 air defense system during live-fire exercise.

As reported by Clash Report on May 30, 2025, during the tactical live-fire exercise "Al-Sumoud 2025," the Algerian People's National Army officially showed for the first time the operational deployment of the Russian-made S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system. The system was visibly integrated into the exercise, with launcher and radar components employed in the scenarios conducted during the drills.
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Russia has been the primary supplier of Algerian military equipment since independence and currently accounts for approximately 73% of Algeria’s arms imports. (Picture source: Algerian MoD)

This public confirmation follows previous indications, such as satellite imagery and port documentation from 2021, that Algeria had taken delivery of S-400 components. The exercise confirmed both the existence and integration of these systems into the command structure of Algeria’s air defense network. This information had not been previously acknowledged officially, despite repeated reporting on the likely presence of such systems in Algeria.

The confirmation occurs in the context of a long-term air defense modernization program pursued by Algeria since the early 2000s. The Territorial Air Defence Forces, established as a separate branch of the armed forces in 1988 after earlier functioning as a directorate under the Air Force, now operate across the national territory. Their structure includes three air defense brigades and five surface-to-air missile regiments. During the period between 2002 and 2014, Algeria implemented a major program of acquisition and upgrading of air defense assets. This included the purchase of new Russian systems such as the S-300PMU-2, Buk-M2, Tor-M2, and Pantsir-S1, as well as the Chinese HQ-9B and Swedish RBS 70. Soviet-era systems such as the SA-2, SA-3, SA-6, SA-8, and S-125 Pechora were retained and upgraded, often with modern electronics from Western or Russian suppliers. Algeria has also established licensed local production of man-portable systems like the Igla and Strela. Radar coverage has been improved through acquisition of systems such as the Kolchuga passive detection network and the 96L6 all-altitude radar.

The S-400 Triumf system, developed by Almaz-Antey, is designed to counter a wide range of airborne targets. Each regiment can include up to 12 transporter-erector-launchers (TELs), with four ready-to-fire missiles per launcher. The system is capable of launching multiple types of missiles: the 40N6E with a range of up to 400 kilometers and an altitude ceiling of 30 kilometers; the 48N6DM with a range of 240 kilometers; the 48N6E2 with 200 kilometers; and the 9M96E2 with 120 kilometers. All use radar homing guidance, either semi-active or active, and employ cold launch methods. The system is designed to engage up to 36 targets simultaneously with 72 missiles in flight. Missile velocity varies by type, with the 48N6 series reaching up to 2,000 m/s. These interceptors are capable of engaging fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and some types of short-range ballistic missiles. The system is designed for rapid deployment, with readiness from march to engagement within five to ten minutes, and from standby in under three minutes.

The S-400 is supported by a network of mobile radar and command units. The 91N6E radar provides target detection with a range up to 600 kilometers under optimal conditions. The 92N6E multifunction radar handles target tracking and missile guidance. Supplementary systems such as the 96L6 all-altitude detector and Kolchuga passive sensors provide early warning and increase resilience to jamming. The entire system is controlled by the 30K6E command system, which coordinates data exchange and engagement decisions. Integration is also possible with legacy systems such as the S-300PMU-2 and mobile point defense systems like the Pantsir-S1 and Tor-M2. The radars operate across L-band, S-band, and VHF frequencies to improve detection of stealth and low-RCS targets. The system supports multi-band and multi-directional engagement strategies, particularly in combination with additional search and tracking radars such as the Protivnik-GE and Gamma-DE. Algeria’s reported inventory of at least one S-400 regiment integrates with existing infrastructure to support layered defense over key zones.

The inclusion of the S-400 system expands Algeria’s defense coverage, offering extended-range interception capabilities not previously available in its arsenal. The 40N6E missile enables engagement of airborne targets at ranges sufficient to cover large portions of Algerian airspace from fixed coastal positions. This includes strategic zones such as the northern metropolitan corridor, oil and gas facilities in the interior, and airfields near border areas. The system increases Algeria’s ability to detect and respond to incursions by aircraft, ISR platforms, and cruise missiles before they reach launch range or target areas. With the ability to intercept at varying altitudes and ranges, the S-400 contributes to the establishment of a layered air defense network. Combined with short- and medium-range assets already in service, this enables Algeria to create overlapping coverage areas and minimize gaps, especially in high-value or contested regions. The system also reinforces Algeria’s ability to operate independently without reliance on external early warning or missile defense architecture.

Algeria’s acquisition of the S-400 system reflects the broader scope of its defense cooperation with Russia. Russia has been the primary supplier of Algerian military equipment since independence and currently accounts for approximately 73% of Algeria’s arms imports, according to data covering 2018 to 2022. This relationship has included the 2006 multibillion-dollar contract for Su-30MKA fighters, S-300PMU-2 systems, and initially MiG-29SMT aircraft, which were returned in 2008 and replaced by 16 additional Su-30MKA. Algeria also operates Russian-supplied T-90SA main battle tanks, Pantsir-S1 and Tor-M2 systems, Varshavyanka-class submarines, and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles. Licensed local production has included AK-series assault rifles, RPGs, and portable air defense missiles such as the Igla. Russia has also expressed interest in Algeria participating in advanced development projects such as the Su-57 fighter. The acquisition of the S-400 falls within this framework and supports Algeria’s strategy of maintaining strong bilateral defense cooperation while avoiding dependency on Western suppliers.

The confirmation of S-400 deployment has implications for regional military balance, particularly in North Africa. Algeria becomes the only country in the Maghreb with a strategic-range air defense system of this class. The range of the 40N6E missile allows Algeria to surveil and potentially interdict aerial activity over parts of Morocco and the western Mediterranean from within its own territory. For Morocco, which has focused its recent defense modernization on Western-supplied platforms such as F-16s, Israeli radars, and American Patriot batteries, the Algerian S-400 represents a serious challenge in terms of range, altitude, and target interception. The Algerian S-400 changes the calculus of potential aerial operations and reinforces Algeria’s ability to enforce air denial in contested areas. More broadly, the presence of the S-400 provides Algeria with a high-readiness capability to monitor and defend its airspace across multiple domains and scenarios. It also enhances its position in regional security dynamics and signals a continued policy of strategic self-sufficiency supported through high-end bilateral partnerships.