Ethiopia Acquires Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets

Ethiopia has received 12 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia as fighting intensifies in the northern Tigray region, which borders Eritrea.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is attending the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, described the acquisition as a “milestone” that would strengthen Ethiopia’s defence capabilities.

Abiy said Ethiopia and Russia agreed to the deal several years ago, but the aircraft arrived before schedule. He also revealed plans to acquire four S-400 air defence systems from Russia.

The Ethiopian leader said the military equipment was necessary to protect the country from external threats. He also described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a close friend of Ethiopia”.

Abiy said Ethiopia had become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to acquire this type of advanced combat technology.

“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.

Ethiopia and Russia have signed several military agreements in recent years. In 2021, the two countries reached an agreement to support military training and improve defence technology.

The Su-35 is designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. According to Abiy, the aircraft can also detect and neutralise incoming cruise missiles at distances of up to 200 kilometres.

Military intelligence analyst Qalaab Segatu told BBC Amharic that Ethiopia’s acquisition of more fighter jets suggested that the country was preparing for possible conflicts beyond its internal fighting. He said the aircraft were highly manoeuvrable and had powerful radar systems capable of scanning large areas and supporting air superiority.

Segatu added that combining the fighter jets with S-400 air defence systems would strengthen Ethiopia’s ability to protect major cities and critical infrastructure, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

Abiy also stressed the importance of drones in strengthening the country’s military capabilities. Ethiopia has used drones sourced from Turkey and China in previous 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 acquisition comes following renewed fighting in northern Tigray, where Ethiopian government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have clashed since last month. Both sides have accused each other of violating the 2022 agreement that ended a civil war in the region.

Ethiopia has also accused neighbouring Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, a claim Eritrea denies. Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have further increased over Ethiopia’s lack of direct access to the sea. Abiy has described the issue as an “existential question”, while Eritrea views Ethiopia’s position as a threat to its sovereignty.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a decades-long war, leaving Ethiopia without direct access to the sea.