--- title: "Ethiopia Gets 12 Russian Su-35 Fighters, Eyes S-400 Air Defenses" description: "The Ethiopian leader says the multirole fighter jets arrived a year ahead of schedule, with four S-400 batteries also planned under the deal. The Ethiopian leader says the Russian jets arrived a year ahead of schedule, with four S-400 batteries also planned under the deal." date: "2026-10-28" modified: "2026-10-28" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/air/ethiopia-gets-12-russian-su-35-fighters-eyes-s-400-air-defenses" categories: - "Africa" - "Air" - "Around The Globe" - "Fighters" - "Flankers" - "Land" - "News & Features" - "S-400" - "Surface-To-Air Missile Systems" --- # Ethiopia Gets 12 Russian Su-35 Fighters, Eyes S-400 Air Defenses ![Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Russian-made Su-35 multirole fighters, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced, adding a significant new capability to the Ethiopian Air Force. The agreement also calls for four batteries of Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile system, although their delivery schedule remains unclear.]() *Abiy Ahmed Ali/via X* In a surprising development, Ethiopia has taken receipt of 12 Russian-made [Su-35 multirole fighters](), Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed [announced](), adding a significant new capability to the Ethiopian Air Force. The agreement also calls for four batteries of Russia’s [S-400 surface-to-air missile system](), although their delivery schedule remains unclear. Abiy said the fighters arrived a year ahead of schedule under an agreement with Moscow and thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for facilitating the accelerated delivery. The financial terms of the deal, the aircraft’s basing locations, and whether additional fighters are included in the agreement have not been disclosed. The Ethiopian leader announced the development on his X account, also posting photos and a video showing himself and other Ethiopian and Russian officials alongside two of the jets. The location appears to have been the third Russia-Africa Summit, [taking place]() in Moscow on October 28-29. https://twitter.com/AbiyAhmedAli/status/2115417808313999641?s=20 The acquisition comes as Ethiopia seeks to strengthen its military capabilities amid persistent domestic security challenges and tensions across the Horn of Africa. ![]() *Abiy Ahmed Ali poses alongside Ethiopian and Russian officials in front of an Ethiopian-marked Su-35. *Abiy Ahmed Ali/via X** The Su-35 is a heavily modernized derivative of the Soviet-era [Su-27](), known by NATO as the Flanker. It combines twin thrust-vectoring engines for a high degree of maneuverability, advanced radar and other sensors, and the ability to carry a range of [air-to-air]() and air-to-surface weapons. Its radar and long-range air-to-air missile capabilities, in particular, represent a notable improvement for Ethiopia’s ability to detect and engage hostile aircraft, while its multirole design allows it to perform a wide range of strike missions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKl59y-TnOY Ethiopia already operates Russian-designed Su-27 fighters, providing a considerable degree of familiarity with the Flanker family. The current fleet comprises around 10 (and perhaps as many as 15) secondhand Su-27s, including two-seaters, supplemented in 2024 by a pair of Su-30Ks. The latter were originally [produced for India]() as interim equipment, and then ended up in storage in Belarus before being refurbished and delivered to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Flankers saw action against Eritrean opposition in the 1990s, and there have also been a handful of non-combat attrition losses. https://twitter.com/HammerOfWar5/status/1607076104719765504?a=al58tb3pYI2jkCqx8XA&s=20 https://twitter.com/HammerOfWar5/status/2113008585835753940?a=9_wQ_2PS5H1oe7JoThU&s=20 However, introducing the Su-35 will still require specialized pilot training, additional maintenance infrastructure, weapons integration, and a dependable supply of spare parts. The latter, in particular, is something that Moscow has not always been able to guarantee in practice. ![]() *Abiy Ahmed Ali during the official handover of the first Ethiopian Su-35s. *Abiy Ahmed Ali/via X** The planned acquisition of four S-400 batteries could prove equally significant. The S-400 is a mobile air-defense system designed to engage aircraft, cruise missiles, and certain ballistic missile threats. ![]() *Abiy Ahmed Ali shakes hands with a Russian official in front of an S-400 promotional display. *Abiy Ahmed Ali/via X** If delivered, the systems would considerably strengthen Ethiopia’s ability to protect military installations, critical infrastructure, and other strategic sites against aerial attack. Ethiopia occupies a strategically important position in the Horn of Africa, bordering Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan. Its security environment includes various unresolved regional tensions, longstanding border disputes, and internal armed conflicts. Ethiopia’s relationship with Eritrea remains particularly relevant given their history of war and continuing tensions. Relations with Egypt and Sudan are also shaped by disputes over the Nile. Abiy has presented the acquisition as a means of deterring aggression and strengthening national sovereignty. At the same time, the delivery reinforces Russia’s position as a supplier of advanced military equipment to African countries. Russian exports to the continent have included combat aircraft, helicopters, armored vehicles, and ground-based air-defense systems. Su-35s, specifically, have previously been delivered to Algeria, [a long-term recipient of Russian military equipment]() on the African continent, as you can read about [here](). https://twitter.com/JohnH105/status/1909931798181666932?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1909931798181666932%7Ctwgr%5E3a85de47adbc8228c8d1fd34f20613f587d0b642%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twz.com%2Fair%2Fsu-35s-once-expected-to-arm-iran-are-now-in-algeria The Algerian jets are understood to have originated in a batch of Su-35s built for Egypt, which had ordered 24. However, the [planned transfer to Egypt]() fell through, under the threat of U.S. sanctions and a [teased offer of F-15s](). In particular, Washington had said it would put sanctions on Cairo under the [Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act]() (CAATSA). ![]() *One of the Su-35s produced for Egypt but never delivered to that country. *@nskplanes** CAATSA includes provisions for sanctions against parties found to have knowingly engaged in significant transactions with Russia’s defense or intelligence sectors. Washington previously invoked the provision against China over its acquisition of Su-35 fighters and S-400-related equipment, although any action against Ethiopia would depend on a separate U.S. determination. The Su-35s built for Egypt were repeatedly [connected with a sale to Iran](), but this also never materialized. https://twitter.com/IrnaEnglish/status/1634481569300709377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1634481569300709377%7Ctwgr%5E3a85de47adbc8228c8d1fd34f20613f587d0b642%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twz.com%2Fair%2Fsu-35s-once-expected-to-arm-iran-are-now-in-algeria Potentially, the 12 jets for Ethiopia could also have been left over from the abandoned Egyptian deal. For Moscow, the deal provides a prominent example of continued defense cooperation with an important country in the Horn of Africa. The transfer also comes amid broader efforts by Russia and African governments to deepen political, economic, and military ties. The agreement’s cost and financing arrangements have not been made public, leaving questions about the long-term expense of operating the fighters and maintaining their supporting infrastructure. ![]() *Abiy Ahmed Ali is seen as part of a delegation in the cargo hold of an Il-76 transport, an aircraft regularly used to transport Russian arms, including S-400 systems. *Abiy Ahmed Ali/via X** The deal also needs to be seen in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent international [sanctions](), have hampered efforts to secure sales for any kind of military equipment, other than to a handful of selected close allies, with little prospect that this will change any time soon. Amid those same sanctions, as well as Moscow’s increasing pariah status, any kind of export success will be very welcome for Moscow, even if it involves jets previously built for another customer. At the same time, the ability of the Russian defense industry to provide in-service support for these jets, once they are delivered, is even more questionable than it was in the past. Since the invasion, Moscow’s need to prioritize its own forces, combined with Western sanctions [restricting access to key components](), has further complicated the situation. For Ethiopia, any disruption to parts deliveries or maintenance support could have an outsized impact on operational readiness, and this is compounded by the requirement of Russian industry to support Moscow’s own [Su-35S]() jets, its [primary fighter](). Ultimately, the acquisition represents a substantial reported addition to Ethiopia’s combat aircraft fleet. The planned S-400 systems could extend that modernization into ground-based air defense, and further influence the military balance in the Horn of Africa region. *Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]() ## More - [Flurry Of Air Force Transports Head To East Africa As Potential For Ethiopia Evacuation Grows]() - [Russian Aggressor Squadron Gets Its First Su-35S Fighter Jets]() - [Russian-Iranian Deal For Su-35 Fighters Could Be On]() - [Claims Swirl Around Russian Su-35S Flanker Shootdown]() - [Senate Voted To Block Turkey From Getting Its F-35s As Spat Over Russian Missiles Grows]() - [Su-35s Once Expected To Arm Iran Are Now In Algeria]() - [Russian Su-35 Fighters Appear For The First Time At Northeastern Syria Airbase: Reports]() - [F-22 Raptors Have Intercepted Russian Su-35s Near Alaska For the First Time]()