Ethiopia secures Russian fighter jets and air defense systems amid internal conflicts

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has confirmed the arrival of 12 Russian-made Su-35 combat aircraft, adding that the country also intends to purchase four S-400 air defense missile batteries from Moscow.

Abiy revealed the military acquisitions on Wednesday on social media platform X while attending the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. He noted that the delivery of the multirole fighter jets occurred 12 months ahead of schedule thanks to assistance from Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Abiy did not provide a specific timeline for the delivery of the advanced S-400 surface-to-air systems, he stated that the new hardware would bolster the nation's capacity to "preemptively deter aggression" and safeguard its airspace.

The equipment transfer highlights the deepening defense relationship between Addis Ababa and Moscow. The two governments established a formal military cooperation pact in July 2021 focused on technology transfer and armed forces training. Earlier this year, Ethiopia also showcased Russian-built Yak-130 trainer aircraft during ceremonies for the 90th anniversary of its air force, according to Janes. The defense relationship fits a broader trend reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which recorded that Russia supplied roughly 15 percent of major defense hardware delivered to African nations between 2021 and 2025.

The high-profile weapons procurement arrives as Ethiopia deals with persistent domestic security crises across multiple fronts. Federal forces have experienced a resurgence in hostilities in northern Tigray, where an earlier November 2022 peace deal brokered in South Africa has eroded. Ethiopian troops recently reentered the regional capital of Mekelle after Tigray People's Liberation Front fighters withdrew, though rebel commanders have pledged to continue combat operations and claimed strikes on pro-government forces.

Simultaneously, the Ethiopian military remains locked in an ongoing conflict with Fano, an ethnic Amhara militia that has been fighting federal authority since 2023. As Abiy attends the two-day summit aimed at strengthening economic and security connections across the continent, Moscow continues to present itself as a prime defense partner for African administrations navigating internal conflicts amid ongoing Western sanctions.