Ethiopia Receives 12 Russian Su-35 Jets, Plans Four S-400s

What changed

Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and says it plans to acquire four S-400 air-defence systems. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called the delivery a milestone, saying the aircraft arrived ahead of schedule under an earlier agreement with Russia.

The move comes as fighting has intensified in Tigray and tensions with Eritrea have sharpened. Ethiopia and Russia have also signed military agreements, including a 2021 deal covering military training and technology.

Why it matters

This changes the shape of Ethiopia’s military planning. The Su-35 can conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, while the proposed S-400 systems are intended to defend against incoming threats. Together, they point to a force designed for more than the internal conflict now consuming Tigray.

The timing is central. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, while Eritrea denies it. At the same time, Abiy has described Ethiopia’s lack of direct sea access as an existential issue, something Eritrea views as a threat to its sovereignty. New combat aircraft therefore carry a regional signal even before the planned air-defence systems arrive.

The S-400 purchase remains a plan, not a confirmed completed acquisition. What follows will depend on whether Ethiopia receives those systems and how the new aircraft are used as the Tigray conflict and tensions with Eritrea develop.