Abiy says Ethiopia received 12 Russian Su-35 jets, plans S-400 purchase

The short version

• Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on X that Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets.[Al Jazeera]
• Abiy said the jets arrived a year early under an existing Moscow agreement, and Ethiopia will acquire four S-400 air defence batteries with no delivery date given.[Al Jazeera]
• Military intelligence analyst Qalaab Segatu says the jets point to possible wars with other countries, not just internal conflicts.[BBC News]

Key facts

• Abiy Ahmed announced on X that Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets.[Al Jazeera]
• The announcement was made on X on a Wednesday during Abiy's visit to Moscow for the Russia-Africa Summit.[Al Jazeera]
• Abiy said the jets arrived a year earlier than expected under an existing agreement with Moscow.[Al Jazeera]
• Abiy announced that Ethiopia will acquire four S-400 air defence batteries and gave no date for their arrival.[Al Jazeera]
• Military intelligence analyst Qalaab Segatu said the acquisition indicates Ethiopia was preparing for possible wars with other countries, not just internal conflicts.[BBC News]
• The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that Russia supplied 15 percent of Africa's major weapons imports from 2021 to 2025.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Ethiopia receives 12 Russian Su-35 jets, plans S-400 acquisitionAl Jazeera
• Ethiopia acquires Russian fighter jets and air defence systems amid war in TigrayBBC News - World