Ethiopia Secures 12 Su‑35 Jets and Plans to Add S‑400 Air‑Defence Systems
Current overview (not historical)
Ethiopia has acquired 12 Russian Su‑35 fighter jets and announced plans to purchase four S‑400 air‑defence systems, a move described by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as a "milestone" that makes Ethiopia the first sub‑Saharan African country to possess such advanced combat technology. The Su‑35s were delivered ahead of schedule amid intensified fighting in the Tigray region, signalling a significant upgrade to Ethiopia’s air capabilities. The planned S‑400 systems are intended to protect major cities and critical infrastructure—such as dams—from external threats, underscoring the government’s focus on national security amid ongoing conflict.
Written with AI from the reporting · updated 10/29/2026
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- 1Unclassified fact stationOct 29, 00:00recorded Oct 29, 17:07single sourcerevised
Ethiopia acquires Russian Su-35 jets and S-400 systems
Read original source ↗ BBC WorldReplay this moment in the explorerEvidence & revisions · 1 source records
- Subject：
- Ethiopia
- Action：
- acquired
- Object：
- 12 Su-35 fighter jets and plans for four S-400 air defence systems from Russia
- Occurred (fact side)：
- Oct 29, 00:00
- Published (valid side)：
- Oct 29, 16:23
- First seen (known side)：
- Oct 29, 17:07
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- BBC WorldRelated fact: single sourceSource report revisedEthiopia Receives 12 Su‑35 Fighter Jets and Plans to Acquire S‑400 Air Defence Systems from Russia
Report first recorded Oct 29, 17:07
During the Russia‑Africa summit in Moscow, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Su‑35 fighter jets from Russia, a deal that was agreed upon several years earlier and delivered ahead of schedule amid escalating fighting in the northern Tigray region. Ahmed also said Ethiopia intends to procure four S‑400 air‑defence systems. The Su‑35, capable of air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground missions and equipped to detect cruise missiles up to 200 km, is described by Ethiopian officials as a key step toward protecting the country from external threats and maintaining strategic air superiority over critical infrastructure such as the Renaissance Dam. The acquisition follows a 2021 military cooperation agreement between Ethiopia and Russia that included training and technology upgrades, and comes as tensions rise between Ethiopia and Eritrea over support for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Ethiopia’s move marks it as the first sub‑Saharan African nation to field this advanced combat technology.
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