Ethiopia receives 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the country has received its first delivery of 12 Russian Su-35 multirole fighter jets. The aircraft reportedly arrived one year ahead of the original schedule, an acceleration for which Ahmed thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow for the Russia-Africa summit.

In addition to the fighter jets, the Ethiopian government announced plans to acquire four batteries of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems. While the Su-35s have been delivered, the specific details regarding the S-400 delivery timeline, contract costs, and deployment locations remain undisclosed.

The acquisition comes amid significant regional and domestic instability. Ethiopia is currently managing renewed fighting in the Tigray region and ongoing armed resistance in Amhara. Furthermore, tensions with neighboring Eritrea have escalated due to disputes over Red Sea access and reported cross-border military movements. The arrival of advanced Russian military hardware marks a significant shift in Ethiopia's air combat capabilities within the Horn of Africa.