Ethiopian PM Announces Arrival of Russian Su-35 Fleet and S-400 Purchase

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Wednesday that Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets. He stated that the government also intends to purchase four S-400 air defense batteries. Ahmed shared these details on the social media platform X while visiting Moscow for the Russia-Africa Summit.

According to the prime minister, the warplanes arrived one year ahead of the schedule set by an existing agreement with Moscow. He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for facilitating the accelerated delivery. Ahmed did not specify a timeline for the arrival of the S-400 systems, which are designed to intercept aircraft and missiles. In a subsequent post that same day, he described the newly deployed jets as a means to defend Ethiopian airspace and to preemptively deter aggression.

The announcement reflects a growing military partnership between the two nations. In July 2021, they signed a military cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa aimed at improving training and technology for the Ethiopian armed forces. Earlier this year, in January, the defense publication Janes reported that Ethiopia displayed newly acquired Russian Yak-130 advanced jet trainers during celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of its air force.

Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicates that Russia supplied 15 percent of Africa's major weapons imports between 2021 and 2025. This figures makes Moscow the continent's third-largest arms supplier. The country has been pursuing stronger military and economic ties in Africa while navigating Western sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.

The arms acquisition occurs as Ethiopian forces engage in renewed fighting in the north. Government troops and allied forces entered Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, on October 4. This move followed a withdrawal by fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front, known as the TPLF. Since that date, the TPLF has lost additional territory as government forces advanced into other towns.

Addis Ababa has installed a six-month caretaker administration for the Tigray region, yet combat has persisted. Last week, a TPLF commander called for continued resistance during a television broadcast. On Wednesday, the group claimed attacks on government-aligned troops in northwestern Tigray. The ongoing conflict has effectively reversed the peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022. Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium estimate that the previous two-year war killed approximately 500,000 civilians.

Federal forces are also battling the Fano, an Amhara armed group that has fought against federal troops since 2023. The TPLF, which previously governed the Tigray region, continues to claim control over portions of the territory despite the government's advance.