Ethiopia Confirms It Has Received 12 Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets

Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News

World

Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets and expects to receive four S-400 air-defense systems under an arms agreement with Moscow, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Wednesday. He described the aircraft as part of an effort to strengthen the country’s defensive capabilities and said they had arrived a year ahead of schedule.

Our comprehensive efforts to sustainably ensure our country's peace and security have reached a new milestone today. The state of readiness being built within Ethiopia's defense forces is endowing the nation with the capability to preemptively deter aggression.

In accordance… pic.twitter.com/y1fsT9bWV7

— Abiy Ahmed Ali (@AbiyAhmedAli)

October 28, 2026

Abiy announced the delivery on X, where he posted photographs and video of the aircraft. He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for helping accelerate the handover and said the new equipment would improve Ethiopia’s readiness, deter threats and reinforce national security. In a separate message, he said the jets would help the country remain prepared to defend its airspace.

The prime minister did not disclose the financial value of the agreement, where the aircraft would be based or when the S-400 systems would arrive. The delivery announcement therefore confirms the arrival of the fighters, while the air-defense batteries remain a planned part of the deal.

The Su-35 is a Russian-designed, fourth-generation-plus multirole fighter. Its functions include air-to-air combat and strike missions. The aircraft are an addition to Ethiopia’s existing fleet of Russian-designed combat aircraft, but bringing a new type into service requires specialized training, maintenance and logistical support. Ethiopian officials did not provide details about how the jets would be integrated into the air force or when they would become fully operational.

The Ethiopian Air Force has received not only twelve Sukhoi Su-35SE multirole fighters but also an Ilyushin Il-78M-90 heavy tanker aircraft to support them. This tanker can significantly extend the fighters’ operational range, enabling them to conduct deep-strike missions across… pic.twitter.com/HZvXztMDpS

— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1)

October 28, 2026

The announcement came during Abiy’s visit to Moscow for the third Russia-Africa summit, which opened October 28. The summit brings together African leaders and representatives for discussions that include trade, investment and security. The aircraft delivery highlighted the military dimension of the growing relationship between Ethiopia and Russia.

The planned S-400 acquisition would add a different capability from the fighter jets. The mobile air-defense system is designed to engage aerial threats, including aircraft and missiles. Ethiopia has not announced the delivery schedule or the intended locations for the systems.

Abiy framed the purchases as measures to protect Ethiopia and deter aggression. The announcement comes amid significant security challenges inside the country and tensions involving neighboring states. In northern Tigray, fighting has renewed after a peace agreement ended the previous war in 2022. Ethiopia is also facing a separate rebellion in the Amhara region.

Relations with Eritrea have deteriorated amid renewed fighting in Tigray and accusations by Addis Ababa that Asmara supports rebel forces. Eritrea has denied backing the rebels. The two countries share a history of conflict and unresolved tensions, making their relationship an important part of the regional security backdrop to Ethiopia’s military buildup.

Ethiopia’s relationship with Egypt is also strained, particularly over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the distribution of Nile waters. Cairo and Khartoum have opposed unilateral actions in the eastern Nile Basin and have called for rules governing cooperation among the countries that share the river. The supplied account also says Ethiopia previously accused Egypt and Sudan of supporting military activity against its government in Tigray; both countries denied the allegation.

Another long-running issue is Ethiopia’s desire for access to the Red Sea. The country became landlocked after Eritrea’s independence in the 1990s. Abiy has repeatedly said Ethiopia will continue seeking access to the sea, a position that has added to tensions in the Horn of Africa.

The scale and terms of the Russian arms agreement remain unclear. Ethiopian officials have not published its cost, disclosed deployment plans or provided a timetable for the four S-400 systems. Abiy’s announcement establishes that the 12 Su-35s have arrived, but further details about their operational use and the remainder of the agreement have not been made public.

The delivery signals closer defense ties between Moscow and Addis Ababa at a time when Ethiopia is seeking to strengthen its military capacity amid internal conflict and regional uncertainty. For now, the announcement’s clearest confirmed element is the arrival of the fighter jets; the air-defense systems remain a future commitment, with their timing and deployment yet to be specified.

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