Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets ahead of schedule and plans to acquire four S-400 air defence batteries. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the major military procurement during the Russia-Africa Summit, a deal experts say bolsters Addis Ababa’s armed forces amid domestic conflict while cementing Moscow’s strategic foothold in the Horn of Africa.
The diplomatic pivot unfolds against a backdrop of escalating security challenges inside Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for ensuring the first batch of 12 Su-35 aircraft arrived a year ahead of the originally scheduled timeline. While Abiy did not disclose the financial value of the contract, the deployment comes as federal forces grapple with renewed fighting in the northern Tigray region and a separate rebellion in Amhara.
Weapons Capabilities and Regional Air Power
The newly acquired aircraft will expand an Ethiopian air force that already relies heavily on Russian fighter jets. Meanwhile, the upcoming S-400 air defence batteries are designed to complement that fleet by guarding against conventional aerial threats, according to Benedict Manzin, a lead analyst on the Middle East and Africa at risk consultancy Sibylline, speaking to Al Jazeera. Manzin noted that these systems could prove useful against Eritrea’s limited air force and drones in any potential border flare-up, though he cautioned that conventional air defences remain vulnerable to swarms of small, inexpensive drones akin to those seen in the war in Ukraine.
During the devastating 2020–2022 conflict in Tigray, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, the Ethiopian government relied extensively on foreign-made drones to alter the momentum on the battlefield. The current escalation has similarly strained ties with neighboring Eritrea. Addis Ababa accuses Asmara of backing rebel factions, an allegation that Eritrean authorities firmly deny.
Moscow Eyes Broader Continental Influence
The modern defense pact draws on decades of bilateral military cooperation stretching back to the Cold War era, when the Soviet Union backed Ethiopia’s former communist administration. Beyond immediate arms sales, the partnership encompasses discussions on nuclear energy, health, agriculture, industry, and education. Putin stated during the summit that bilateral trade surpassed $1.3 billion between January and September, more than double the figure for all of 2025.
Russia’s push into Ethiopia aligns with broader efforts to expand its security footprint across the African continent, where arms exports serve as a primary generator of state revenue and diplomatic leverage. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia supplied 15 percent of major weapons imports to African nations between 2021 and 2025, trailing the United States at 19 percent and China at 17 percent.
Similar defense negotiations are playing out elsewhere on the continent. Sudan’s Defence Ministry is reportedly negotiating with Moscow to acquire Su-30 and Su-35 fighter jets in exchange for granting Russia permission to establish a major naval logistics facility on the Red Sea, according to Military Watch Magazine. In North Africa, Algeria received a batch of Russian Su-34M strike fighters in May, building on a large preexisting arsenal of Russian military hardware.
| Country | Recent Russian Aircraft Acquisition / Negotiation | Strategic Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopia | 12 Su-35 fighter jets delivered; 4 S-400 batteries ordered | Reinforces military capabilities amid domestic conflict in Tigray and regional tensions with Eritrea. |
| Sudan | Negotiating for Su-30 and Su-35 jets | Linked to proposed discussions over a strategic Russian naval facility on the Red Sea. |
| Algeria | Batch of Su-34M strike fighters received in May | Expands an existing fleet of advanced Russian-supplied military aircraft. |
Navigating Shifting Geopolitical Alignments
Despite expanding military ties with Moscow, foreign policy analysts emphasize that Ethiopia is not severing its historic links with Western partners or its extensive commercial relationship with Beijing. China maintains a massive economic presence within the country, and Western investments continue to flow into various sectors of the Ethiopian economy.
As African states find themselves at the center of renewed great-power competition, governments like Addis Ababa are effectively diversifying their diplomatic options. By balancing engagements among Russia, China, and Western capitals, Ethiopia maximizes its strategic leverage to secure vital weapons, infrastructure investment, and diplomatic backing.
Unanswered questions remain regarding the operational timeline and deployment locations for the incoming S-400 batteries. Abiy did not specify when the air defence systems are slated to arrive or where the newly delivered fighter jets will be stationed as federal troops manage ongoing security operations following the unravelling of the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.
