Ethiopia: Abiy Ahmed announces delivery of 12 Russian Su-35 fighters and four upcoming S-400 batteries

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on October 28, 2026, via his X account, that Ethiopia had received twelve Russian Su-35 fighter jets and would be acquiring four S-400 anti-aircraft defense batteries, reports Al Jazeera. The announcement was made from Moscow, where the leader was attending the Russia-Africa summit.

According to Al Jazeera, the aircraft arrived one year ahead of the date set by the agreement concluded with Moscow. Abiy Ahmed thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for accelerating the delivery and stated that this equipment would strengthen the country's ability to "preemptively deter aggression." No date was provided for the S-400s, which are designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles.

A partnership sealed in July 2021

The two governments signed a military cooperation agreement in Addis Ababa in July 2021, covering training and technology for the Ethiopian armed forces. In January, the specialized media outlet Janes reported that Ethiopia had showcased Russian Yak-130 training aircraft during the 90th anniversary of its air force.

This rapprochement is part of a continental trend: according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia provided 15% of African imports of major weapons between 2021 and 2025, making it the continent's third-largest supplier.

An army engaged on two fronts

These acquisitions come as the Ethiopian army is fighting on two fronts. In Tigray, government forces and their allies entered the regional capital, Mekele, on October 4, following the withdrawal of fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the former regional power. Addis Ababa has appointed a six-month interim administration there, but fighting continues: the TPLF claimed responsibility for attacks in northwestern Tigray on October 28, according to Al Jazeera.

The war has effectively nullified the Pretoria Agreement, signed in South Africa in November 2022, which had ended two years of fighting. Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium estimate that this conflict has claimed the lives of approximately 500,000 civilians. In the Amhara region, the army has also been confronting the Fano armed group since 2023.

What this order signifies

For Ethiopia, the issue is presented as the defense of its airspace. The question remains that Ethiopian citizens have the right to ask: at what cost, and for the benefit of what peace, in a country where war has already emptied entire regions and where the administration of Tigray is only interim. Fighter jets are being delivered faster than political agreements are being rebuilt.