The Algerian army officially embarks on the development and manufacture of missiles, says a presidential decree published in the official newspaper of the Algerian Republic.

Algeria’s acquisition of Chinese-made SR5 multiple rocket launchers was confirmed during the exercises in the 4th military district of the People’s National Army of Algeria in January 2018 (Picture source: Algerian MoD)

For the first time, the Algerian National People's Army (ANP) wants to join the club of armies able to manufacture their own missiles. Indeed, a presidential decree published in the last official newspaper of the Algerian Republic authorizes the army to create "an establishment for the development of technical systems". This structure will be responsible for the design and manufacture of missiles and complex weapons systems for the benefit of the national army, said the military information site Menadefense.

The decree stipulates that the company in question will be responsible for "ensuring the studies, design, engineering and manufacture of specific weapons and ammunition systems". It will be based in Magra, in the wilaya (region) of M'Sila, in eastern Algeria.

It is the composition of the national shareholding of this company and its international partnerships which makes it possible to understand the real vocation of the project: in addition to the classical shareholders like the staff of the ANP, the Department of the military manufacturers and the Department of Supply within the Ministry of National Defense, this company, explains the same media, will have as shareholders and probably as suppliers / partners: the Algerian Joint Society for the Manufacture of Electronic Systems (Scafse), specialized in the production of radar systems , electronic, optical and communication, the National Office for Explosive Substances (Onex), which produces special explosives and finally the ERIS, national manufacturer of ammunition. These three national companies under the control of the ANP have, according to the same source, a network of foreign partners working in sectors related to aerospace technologies. These are the Chinese Norinco for Onex, Serbian Zastava for ERIS and German Cassidian and Carl Zeiss for the Scafse.