Ethiopia receives 12 Russian Su-35 jets, plans S-400 acquisition

PM Abiy Ahmed makes the announcement during a Moscow summit as Ethiopia battles armed groups in Tigray and Amhara.Published On 28 Oct 202628 Oct 2026Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and will also acquire four S-400 air defence batteries, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced.Abiy made the announcement on X on Wednesday during a visit to Moscow for the two-day Russia-Africa Summit, where Russia is seeking closer security and economic ties with African countries.Recommended Stories list of 2 itemslist 1 of 2Russia-Africa Summit: What is on the agenda, and why does it matter?list 2 of 2Sixty Christians killed in Ethiopia’s Oromia regionend of listThe acquisition comes as Ethiopian forces fight renewed battles with rebels in northern Tigray and a separate rebellion in the neighbouring Amhara region.The prime minister said the warplanes had arrived a year earlier than expected under an existing agreement with Moscow, thanking Russian President Vladimir Putin for helping speed up the delivery.He gave no date for the arrival of the S-400 batteries, designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles.Abiy said on Wednesday that the new equipment would strengthen Ethiopia’s ab...