Ethiopia receives 12 Russian Su-35 jets, plans S-400 acquisition
Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and plans to acquire four S-400 air defense batteries, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced during a Moscow summit.
The announcement came on Wednesday during Abiy's visit to the two-day Russia-Africa Summit, where Russia is seeking closer security and economic ties with African countries. The warplanes arrived a year earlier than expected under an existing agreement with Moscow, according to the prime minister.
Abiy gave no specific date for the arrival of the S-400 batteries, which are designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles. He stated that the new equipment would strengthen Ethiopia's ability to 'preemptively deter aggression' and described the jets as newly deployed to defend Ethiopian airspace.
Military cooperation
The deal represents the latest development in Russia's growing military partnership with Ethiopia. The two governments signed a military cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa in July 2021 aimed at improving training and technology for Ethiopian armed forces.
The acquisition comes as Ethiopian forces fight renewed battles with rebels in northern Tigray and a separate rebellion in the neighbouring Amhara region.
Tigray war
The announcement follows a major shift in the fighting in Tigray, where government troops and allied forces entered the regional capital Mekelle on October 4 after fighters from the TPLF withdrew. The TPLF has suffered further territorial losses as government forces advanced into other towns.
Addis Ababa has appointed a six-month caretaker administration for Tigray, but fighting continues. A TPLF commander called for continued resistance last week, while the group has claimed attacks against government-aligned troops in northwestern Tigray. Government forces are also battling Fano, an Amhara armed group fighting federal troops since 2023.
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