ADDIS ABABA, Oct 28 – Ethiopia has received its first Russian Su-35 fighter jets and expects to take delivery of S-400 air defence systems from Moscow, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Wednesday, as the government moves to strengthen the country’s military capabilities amid renewed internal conflict.
Abiy announced the deliveries on X, describing the military equipment as a milestone in Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen national security and “pre-emptively deter aggression”.
Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport confirmed to Reuters that the first two aircraft had been delivered to the Ethiopian Air Force.
“the first batch of two Su-35 aircraft was delivered to the Ethiopian Air Force today,” the company said, without providing further details.
Abiy said Ethiopia would receive a total of 12 Su-35 fighter jets and four S-400 air defence batteries under the agreement. He also credited Russian President Vladimir Putin with helping secure delivery of the initial aircraft a year ahead of schedule.
The Ethiopian government has not disclosed the value of the agreement or identified the locations where the aircraft and air defence systems will be based.
Military Modernisation Amid Renewed Conflict
The deliveries come as Ethiopia faces multiple security challenges, including renewed fighting in the northern Tigray region.
A rebel alliance launched an offensive against the government last month, reigniting conflict in a region that was the centre of a war between 2020 and 2022 that killed hundreds of thousands of people.
During the previous conflict, Ethiopian forces relied on air power, including the widespread deployment of foreign-made drones, which helped shift the course of the fighting.
The renewed violence has also heightened tensions between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea. Addis Ababa has accused Asmara of supporting the rebels, an allegation Eritrea denies.
The acquisition of advanced fighter aircraft and air defence systems would expand Ethiopia’s military capabilities, although the government has not detailed how the new equipment will be deployed or integrated into its existing forces.
Russia-Ethiopia Defence Cooperation
The Su-35 is a Russian multirole fighter aircraft designed for air superiority and strike missions, while the S-400 is a long-range surface-to-air missile system intended to engage aircraft and other aerial threats.
The planned acquisition would give Ethiopia additional capabilities in both air combat and ground-based air defence. The delivery schedule for the remaining aircraft and the four S-400 batteries has not been disclosed.
The agreement also underscores Russia’s continuing role as a supplier of military equipment to countries seeking to expand or modernise their armed forces. For Ethiopia, the immediate focus is strengthening its defence capabilities amid domestic instability and heightened regional tensions.
