In recent years, Africa, and North Africa in particular, has been the scene of a serious arms race between two large neighboring countries: Algeria and Morocco. Despite differences in political strategy, both countries are investing heavily in modernizing their militaries.
In 2022, Algeria spent approximately $9.1 billion on its military, significantly more than the $5 billion invested by Morocco for the same purpose. While Algeria has traditionally relied on Russian military technology, Morocco is seeking cooperation with Western countries and Israel, which could create a new balance of power in the region.
Algeria continues its military modernization and plans to purchase new Su-57 fighter jets from Russia soon, according to reports. At the same time, Morocco is focusing on advanced US technologies such as the F-35 and aims to be the first in Africa and the Arab world to possess this exceptional aircraft.
The deal comes against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to acquire the same aircraft, adding a new layer to the dynamics of the global arms race.
Morocco is also modernizing its existing F-16C/D jets and upgrading them to F-16V versions with the latest radar and battle management technology.
However, the country faces an undeniable need for more modern fighter jets, especially when compared to neighboring Algeria’s military buildup.
In addition to military aid, Israel has confirmed that it will support Morocco’s efforts to secure F-35s as part of the Abraham Accords. These agreements aim to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states and include commercial and military strategic interests that benefit both parties.
The UAE also plays a key role in securing some of the deal’s funding, adding a further factor to the region’s complex geopolitical situation.
These trade trends and the growing pressure to acquire advanced military technology highlight a serious arms race between Algeria and Morocco.
These processes are not only changing the balance of military power, but also affecting political and strategic relations in North Africa, with participating states opening up new alliances and opportunities to strengthen their influence on the international stage. I keep asking.
Comparisons between the F-35 and Su-57 aircraft often attract attention, as both fighters belong to a new generation of fighter aircraft. The F-35 is an American fifth-generation fighter developed by Lockheed Martin, and the Su-57 is a Russian fighter produced by Sukhoi.
Although both aircraft are equipped with the latest technology and are used for a wide range of missions, including air combat, attacking ground targets, and reconnaissance, there are differences in their development approaches and the technologies they employ.
One of the F-35’s main strengths is its versatility and standardization. The aircraft is designed to perform a variety of roles, from air combat to ground attack to intelligence gathering.
It is part of a development program aimed at integrating different types of aircraft according to different military branches and missions (for example, the U.S. Air Force’s F-35A, the Marine Corps’ F-35B, the Navy’s F-35A, -35C). This provides high operational flexibility.
In addition, the F-35 is equipped with advanced electronic systems such as radar and sensors, which provide significant advantages in detection and data processing.
The F-35’s stealth capabilities are extremely advanced, especially when combined with its low-profile design, making it extremely difficult to detect on radar.
The Su-57, on the other hand, has strengths in energy mobility and offensive design. It is designed to be a highly maneuverable fighter with excellent air combat capabilities.
The Su-57 has more powerful engines and can perform complex maneuvers and achieve high speeds, giving it a tactical advantage in direct air encounters.
The Su-57 employs stealth technology, although not as advanced as the F-35, which still allows it to evade detection by older radar systems.
In addition, Russian fighters are specifically designed for offensive air combat and maintain high maneuverability at high speeds, making them competitive in direct confrontations with other fighters.
The F-35’s most important advantages over the Su-57 are its integration into Western defense systems and its extensive sensor network connecting with other platforms and resources.
This allows the F-35 to operate as part of a larger networked cooperation, giving it a significant strategic advantage. On the other hand, the Su-57 relies on a more isolated operational concept, which may be at a disadvantage in operations that require strong coordination with other elements of the military space.
Cost is a major factor in the F-35’s weaknesses. While this does not make it inefficient, it does make the F-35 much more expensive to acquire and maintain than the Su-57. Although the Su-57 is a new model, it has the advantage of low production costs, which is important for countries with small budgets.
Although the Su-57 is cheaper in this regard, there are still questions about its reliability and operational status, as its program is in the early stages of fielding and has not yet reached the same production level as the F-35. . .
Additionally, the Su-57 may have limited ability to integrate with other countries’ existing networks and sensor technology, thereby reducing its global versatility.
Although Russia has invested heavily in this platform, it still needs to address issues related to maintenance and logistics networks, which could be critical for combat readiness in the international arena.
As a country with ambitions to increase its military influence and modernize its air force, Algeria is likely to choose the Su-57. The aircraft could play an important role in Algeria’s strategic air command and serve as a core element of air defense and operational operations in a potential conflict in the Maghreb region.
The Su-57 has the ability to penetrate well-defended airspace while providing superior combat maneuverability in modern air combat.
Thanks to advanced radar systems and the ability to detect and destroy air and ground targets, the Su-57 is able to increase the effectiveness of Algerian air operations and ensure the country’s air superiority.
In addition, Algeria could use the Su-57 to strengthen its strategic presence in African affairs and demonstrate its readiness to participate in international missions and conflicts involving enemy states equipped with modern air defense systems There is.
This could include potential threats from neighboring countries such as Morocco and Libya, which are also modernizing their militaries.
Morocco, on the other hand, may be interested in purchasing the F-35 fighter jet, which is also part of the fifth generation, but with different technical characteristics suitable for different operational environments.
The F-35 is a multi-role stealth aircraft capable of performing both strategic and tactical missions, with a focus on integrating modern reconnaissance and surveillance technology.
The fighter is ideal for securing air superiority and providing strike capabilities to support Morocco in regional conflicts, as well as for strategic power projection beyond territory.
The F-35 will provide Morocco with superior operational capabilities in multi-layered military situations, including interactions with other NATO allies and participation in the United Nations.
The F-35’s outstanding ability to integrate into a network of air and ground platforms makes it especially valuable in operations that require precision strikes and rapid adaptation to changing battlefield conditions.
Additionally, the F-35’s high security and ability to penetrate well-protected areas could give it an advantage in combat against modern adversaries.
Once these two fighter jets are delivered to each country, the differences in strategy and military concepts between Algeria and Morocco will become clear.
Algeria can rely on the highly maneuverable and strike-capable Su-57, while Morocco with its F-35 can rely on highly operationally capable fighters for strategic air command and modern tactical operations. will be acquired.
These different choices between the two countries will have a significant impact on the balance of power in the region and how they perceive potential future military conflict.
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