Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announcing plans for four S-400 air defence systems as fighting intensifies in the northern Tigray region.
BBC World
Ethiopia has received 12 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, a delivery announced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed while attending the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow as fighting intensified in the northern Tigray region.
Abiy described the acquisition as a milestone that would boost Ethiopia's defence capacity. He said the deal had been agreed several years ago and the warplanes had arrived ahead of schedule. He also said Ethiopia planned to acquire four S-400 air defence systems from Moscow.
The Ethiopian leader said the military hardware was essential to protect the country from external threats, and that Ethiopia had become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to own this kind of advanced combat technology. He described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a close friend of Ethiopia. "If we fail to build this capability, surviving as a country in our region will become difficult," he said. "Countries with sufficient preparation are not easily defied."
Russia and Ethiopia have signed several military agreements in recent years, including a 2021 deal to train and improve technology for the military. Abiy cited global air force trends and the security threats facing the country when explaining the procurement of the jets and the planned air defence systems.
According to the prime minister, the Su-35 is equipped for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, with the ability to detect and neutralize incoming cruise missiles at distances of up to 200km (124 miles).
Military intelligence analyst Qalaab Segatu told BBC Amharic that the acquisition of additional warplanes was a key indication that Ethiopia was "preparing for possible wars with other countries, not just internal conflicts". He said the jets are highly manoeuvrable, capable of covering large areas, and have radars that can ensure air superiority and long-range scanning. Combined with air defence systems, he said, they would create a significant capability to protect major cities and critical infrastructure such as the Renaissance Dam.
Abiy said the use of drones was equally important in strengthening deterrence alongside the advanced aircraft. Ethiopia has extensively used military drones, including those 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," he said.
The delivery comes after fighting resumed in northern Tigray last month between the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that controls the region. Both sides blame each other for violating a 2022 agreement that ended a civil war.
Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the TPLF, which Eritrea denies. Tensions between the two countries have also persisted over sea access, with Abiy describing Ethiopia's lack of direct sea access as an "existential question", a stance Eritrea views as a direct threat to its sovereignty. Eritrea gained independence in 1993 after a decades-long war with Ethiopia, leaving the latter without access to the sea.