Ethiopia Acquires 12 Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets in Major Military Expansion
Ethiopia receives 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and plans to buy four S-400 systems, boosting national defense amid regional tensions.
POLICY WIRE — Moscow, Russia — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that Ethiopia has officially secured a major upgrade to its national security infrastructure by taking delivery of 12 Russian-made Su-35 4++ generation fighter jets.
Disclosing the acquisition during a social media announcement on Wednesday, October 28, the Prime Minister noted that the advanced aircraft arrived a year ahead of schedule. The deployment marks a significant step forward in ongoing efforts to safeguard national sovereignty.
Alongside the newly delivered jets, Ethiopia is also slated to receive four batteries of Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense system. The expansive military buildup comes as the nation faces growing geopolitical pressures, including escalating tensions with neighboring Eritrea and persistent instability within the northern Tigray region.
Prime Minister Abiy highlighted the acquisitions while visiting Moscow, characterizing the transactions as a vital milestone in modernizing the country’s armed forces and ensuring long-term domestic stability. Comprehensive initiatives to sustainably secure national peace have reached a new operational threshold through these defense pacts.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
