Algeria may become the first African state to operate Chinese J-10C multirole fighters and KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft. If confirmed, deliveries beginning in 2027 would mark one of the most important changes in North African air power in years. This would be significant because Algeria’s combat aviation has been built mainly around Russian systems. The Algerian Air Force already operates Su-30MKA fighters, Su-35s, Su-34M strike aircraft and is reportedly introducing Su-57s. The