Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says Russia has delivered 12 Su-35 fighters a year ahead of schedule. Photographs released by his office show two aircraft with Ethiopian markings. The agreement also covers four S-400 air-defence batteries, extending the announced purchase from combat aircraft to ground-based air defence; their delivery timetable has not been disclosed.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on 28 October that Russia had delivered 12 Su-35 multirole fighters to his country. Speaking during his visit to Moscow, he thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin and said the aircraft had arrived a year before the agreed schedule. His office released photographs and video showing two fighters with Ethiopian markings. The announced total of 12 comes from Abiy’s statement.[1], [2]
The acquisition also includes four S-400 batteries, Russian long-range air-defence systems. Abiy said those systems would follow the aircraft, while their delivery timetable has not been disclosed. Janes identified the location in the released imagery as Zhukovsky International Airport near Moscow. The visit coincided with the Russia-Africa Summit. Ethiopia’s Su-35 order had not previously been confirmed.[1], [2]
Ethiopia’s air force already operates Su-27 fighters and received two further Russian-designed aircraft in 2024. The Su-35 is a developed derivative of the Soviet-era Su-27, designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Introducing the new aircraft requires specialised pilot training, maintenance facilities and spare-parts support. Abiy presented the purchase as a means of deterring aggression and protecting national sovereignty.[1], [2]
