Ethiopia Receives 12 Russian Su-35s Ahead of Schedule

Ethiopia has taken delivery of twelve Russian Su-35 fighter jets, arriving one year earlier than the original agreement specified. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the arrival on X on Wednesday, citing the accelerated timeline as a result of direct assistance from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The new aircraft are described as newly deployed units intended to secure Ethiopian airspace.

The prime minister stated that the acquisition is part of a larger defense strategy that includes the purchase of four S-400 air defense batteries. While no specific date was provided for the arrival of the S-400 systems, Ahmed noted that the combined equipment would enhance the nation's capacity to preemptively deter aggression. The S-400 batteries are designed to intercept and destroy both aircraft and missiles.

The announcement took place during a two-day Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. The summit is focused on strengthening security and economic ties between Russia and African nations. Abiy's visit coincides with a period of renewed conflict on the Ethiopian front, involving battles in the northern regions of Tigray and Amhara.

This transfer of equipment marks the latest development in a growing military partnership between the two countries. In July 2021, the governments signed a cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa to improve training and technology for the Ethiopian armed forces. Earlier this year, in January, reports indicated that Ethiopia displayed newly acquired Russian Yak-130 jet trainers during its air force 90th anniversary celebrations.

Russia has emerged as a major supplier of arms to the continent. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Moscow supplied 15 percent of Africa's major weapons imports between 2021 and 2025, ranking it as the third-largest supplier. This increase in military exports aligns with Moscow's efforts to deepen ties with African states while navigating Western sanctions related to its war in Ukraine.

The military buildup occurs against a backdrop of intensifying regional instability. Government troops entered the Tigray regional capital of Mekelle on October 4 after forces from the Tigray People's Liberation Front withdrew. A six-month caretaker administration has been appointed for the region, yet fighting continues. A TPLF commander called for sustained resistance on television last week, and the group claimed attacks on government-aligned troops in northwestern Tigray on Wednesday.

The current conflict has effectively reversed the terms of a peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022. Researchers at Belgium's Ghent University estimate that the previous two years of fighting resulted in approximately 500,000 civilian deaths. In the neighboring Amhara region, federal forces remain engaged in combat with the Fano armed group, a conflict that has persisted since 2023.