Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Russian fighter jets and will receive four S-400 air-defense systems as tensions rise in the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets and plans to acquire four S-400 air-defense systems from Moscow, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said, as the country faces renewed fighting in Tigray and worsening relations with neighboring Eritrea.

What Abiy said about the Su-35 deal

Abiy announced the deal while attending the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. He described the aircraft as a major boost to Ethiopia’s ability to deter aggression and defend its airspace.

He said the jets arrived a year earlier than scheduled. He did not disclose the value of the agreement, when the S-400 systems would arrive or where the equipment would be based.

How many jets have arrived?

Accounts differ on the immediate delivery. Abiy said Ethiopia had received all 12 aircraft, but Russia’s state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport told Reuters that the first batch consisted of two Su-35s delivered to the Ethiopian Air Force.

Fighting in Tigray and tensions with Eritrea

The military expansion comes as fighting has intensified in Tigray, where clashes between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters have revived the conflict that devastated the region between 2020 and 2022.

Ethiopia is also fighting the Fano armed group in neighboring Amhara. Relations with Eritrea have sharply deteriorated, and Ethiopia’s government accuses Eritrea of supporting Tigrayan rebels, an allegation Eritrea denies.

What the jets could mean for Ethiopia’s military

Ethiopia relied heavily on foreign-supplied drones during the previous Tigray war, which helped government forces regain the upper hand.

The Su-35s, designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, would significantly strengthen the country’s air capabilities if the full fleet is delivered. The planned S-400 systems would add long-range air-defense capabilities as Ethiopia faces growing security challenges across the Horn of Africa.