Ethiopia Receives 12 Russian Jets
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the early delivery of Su-35 fighters and a planned purchase of four S-400 air defense systems.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Ethiopian airspace will be defended by 12 newly arrived Russian Su-35 fighter jets. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed the delivery on X on Wednesday. The aircraft reached the country one year earlier than the original schedule. Ahmed thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for accelerating the handover under the existing agreement.
The delivery occurs while Ethiopian forces engage in active combat in the north. Government troops are fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front in Tigray. A separate rebellion by the Fano group continues in the neighboring Amhara region. Ahmed stated the new equipment will help Ethiopia preemptively deter aggression.
The prime minister also announced plans to acquire four S-400 air defense batteries. These systems are designed to intercept aircraft and missiles. He did not specify a date for their arrival in Ethiopia. In a separate post later on Wednesday, he described the Su-35s as newly deployed and ready for service.
The move follows a military cooperation agreement signed in Addis Ababa in July 2021. That deal aimed to improve training and technology for the Ethiopian armed forces. In January, Ethiopia displayed Russian Yak-130 jet trainers during air force anniversary celebrations. Janes reported on the display in its coverage of the event.
Russia supplied 15 percent of Africa's major weapons imports between 2021 and 2025. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute identified it as the continent's third-largest supplier. Moscow has pursued closer ties with African nations while managing Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.
The announcement coincides with the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. The two-day event focuses on trade, investment, and security. African leaders are meeting with Russian officials to discuss these priorities. The summit began on the same day Ahmed made the military announcement.
Ground fighting in Tigray shifted in early October. Government troops entered the capital, Mekelle, on October 4. The TPLF withdrew from the city but continues to resist. A TPLF commander called for continued resistance on television last week. The group claimed attacks on government-aligned troops in northwestern Tigray on Wednesday. A six-month caretaker administration is now in place, but the conflict remains unresolved. The current war undid the peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022. Researchers at Ghent University estimated that the previous two years of fighting killed about 500,000 civilians.
