Ethiopia Takes Delivery of 12 Russian Su-35 Jets as Fighting Intensifies in Tigray

Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, at a time when fighting is growing more intense in the northern Tigray region, which borders Eritrea.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is attending the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, called the acquisition a "milestone" for the country's defence capacity. He said the two governments agreed the deal several years ago and that the aircraft arrived ahead of schedule. He added that Ethiopia intends to buy four S-400 air defence systems from Moscow.

Abiy described Russian President Vladimir Putin as "a close friend of Ethiopia" and said Ethiopia is now the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to own this kind of "advanced combat technology." He argued the equipment is essential for protecting the country against external threats. "If we fail to build this capability, surviving as a country in our region will become difficult. Countries with sufficient preparation are not easily defied," he said.

The prime minister said the purchase of the Su-35 jets and S-400 systems was agreed under an earlier agreement and reflected global air force trends and the security threats Ethiopia faces. He noted that the Su-35 is equipped for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat and can detect and neutralize incoming cruise missiles at distances of up to 200 kilometers. Russia and Ethiopia have signed several military agreements in recent years, including a 2021 deal on training and improving military technology.

Military intelligence analyst Qalaab Segatu told BBC Amharic that the purchase of more warplanes was a key sign Ethiopia "was preparing for possible wars with other countries, not just internal conflicts." He said the jets are highly maneuverable and can cover large areas, with radars that support air superiority and long-range scanning. Together with the air defence systems, he said, they "create a significant capability to protect and defend major cities and critical infrastructure such as the Renaissance Dam, providing key strategic air superiority."

Abiy also stressed that drones remain important for deterrence. Ethiopia has made extensive use of military drones, including models sourced from Turkey and China, in recent conflicts. "We need to build capacity not only with drones, but also with the fourth generation capabilities of the Su 30 and Su 35 [aircraft]," he said.

The delivery follows the start last month of the current conflict in northern Tigray between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that controls the region. Each side accuses the other of breaking a 2022 deal that ended a civil war. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the TPLF, an allegation Eritrea denies.

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea remain tense. Abiy has called Ethiopia's lack of direct sea access an "existential question," a position Eritrea sees as a direct threat to its sovereignty. Eritrea became independent in 1993 after a decades-long war with Ethiopia, which lost its access to the sea as a result.