Algeria to Locally License Produce Chinese Type 056 Corvettes – Reports

<p >The Algerian Defence Ministry has reportedly placed an order for six Chinese Type 056 Class corvettes, and after confirmation of the Navy’s satisfaction with the first ship of the class built in China, the El Moutassadi, it reportedly plans to produce all these ships under license domestically. The ship delivered to Algeria in 2023 was produced by China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, the world’s leading shipbuilder for surface combat ships, and today represents one of the most advanced warships fielded in Africa or the Arab World. The 1,500 ton corvettes each deploy 12 vertical launch cells, including four which accommodate YJ-83 anti ship cruise missile, and eight accommodating HHQ-10 short range surface-to-air missiles. This arsenal is supplemented two triple torpedo tubes for 324mm torpedoes. The Type 056 Class will be relied on to serve as a lighter counterpart to the Russian Project 20380 Steregushchiy Class corvettes, which displace 2,200 tons and deploy significantly longer ranged missiles including Kalibr and Zircon long range cruise missiles. The Algerian Navy has also procured larger 3000 ton Adhafer Class corvettes from China since 2015. </p><p ><img src=" title="Algerian Navy Adhafer Class Corvette"></p><p >China has rapidly gained a growing share of Algeria’s arms market, with notable procurements including YJ-12B and CX-1 anti ship cruise missiles, CH-4 and WJ-700 drones, WM-80 rocket artillery systems, PLZ-45 self-propelled howitzers, <a href=" anti tank missile systems</a>, CHL-906 electronic warfare systems, and according to some sources even <a href=" long range air defence systems</a>. The country was reported in August to be seriously <a href=" procurement </a>of VT-4 main battle tanks, which would replace its small number of T-55 and T-62 tanks and provide the country with its first tanks with active protection systems among other cutting edge features. Artwork in the Algerian Defence Ministry <a href=" target="_blank">unveiled in 2020</a> gave an indication that alongside Su-57 fighters, procurement of <a href=" target="_blank">Type 052D Class destroyers</a> was also under consideration for the Algerian Navy, which would provide a tremendous leap in maritime power projection capabilities. </p><p >As part of a broader strengthening of strategic ties with China, Algeria on May 22 was confirmed to have <a href=" become a dialogue partner of the Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation military bloc, and on September 1 was announced to have joined the Chinese-led BRICS New Development Bank. The country has redoubled investments in its military capabilities since <a href=" >NATO’s assault</a> on neighbouring Libya in 2011, and has continued to perceive a <a href=" >significant threat</a> from Western military activities in its region. The <a href=" target="_blank">takeover of the Syrian capital </a>Damascus by Turkish, Western and Israeli backed jihadist militants on December 8 has sparked considerable concern that as the last large Arab republic outside the Western sphere of influence, efforts to destabilise and overthrow the Algerian state may well be redoubled.</p>