Ethiopia says it has received 12 Russian Su-35 jets and plans S-400 purchase

Ethiopia has announced that it has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and plans to acquire four S-400 air defence batteries. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made the announcement during a visit to Moscow for the two-day Russia-Africa Summit. The statement comes as Ethiopian forces continue fighting in the northern Tigray region and in the neighbouring Amhara region.

Abiy said the warplanes arrived a year earlier than expected under an existing agreement with Moscow. He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for helping speed up the delivery. In a post on X, he said the new equipment would strengthen Ethiopia's ability to "preemptively deter aggression".

He later described the jets as newly deployed and said they would help defend Ethiopian airspace. The prime minister did not give a date for the arrival of the S-400 batteries. The system is designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles, making it one of the most significant air defence platforms in Russia's arsenal.

The announcement adds to signs of a growing military partnership between Ethiopia and Russia, following a series of agreements in recent years. The two governments signed a military cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa in July 2021 aimed at improving training and technology for the Ethiopian armed forces. The timing of the announcement is notable because it comes during renewed conflict in Ethiopia's north.

Government troops and allied forces entered Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, on October 4 after fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front withdrew. The TPLF is an armed group that previously governed the region. Fighting has also continued in Amhara, where a separate rebellion has challenged federal forces.

The procurement also reflects Russia's wider effort to deepen security and economic ties with African countries while facing Western sanctions over its war in Ukraine. Russia supplied 15 percent of Africa's imports of major weapons between 2021 and 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, making it the continent's third-largest supplier. The Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow has brought African leaders together for talks on trade, investment and security.

What remains unclear is when the S-400 batteries will arrive and how quickly the new aircraft will be integrated into Ethiopia's air force. It is also not clear whether the announcement will affect the balance of power in the conflicts in Tigray and Amhara. For now, the statement marks a significant new phase in Ethiopia's defence procurement and its military relationship with Moscow.

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