Ethiopia gets Russian Su-35 jets, plans S-400 buy as Tigray war returns
By Rohan SalujaGeopolitics Editor, Peepals Global
Representative image: 12019 / Pixabay
Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed said on October 28, 2026 his country has received Russian Su-35 fighters and will buy four S-400 batteries; Russia says two jets arrived first.
What Happened
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during a visit to Moscow for a Russia-Africa summit, that his country had received Russian Su-35 fighter jets and would also buy four batteries of Russia's S-400 air defence system. Abiy spoke of the "first twelve" jets arriving a year ahead of schedule under an existing agreement. Russia's state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, said the first batch delivered was two aircraft. The announcement comes as Ethiopia faces a renewed rebel offensive in its northern Tigray region and a break in relations with neighbouring Eritrea.
Key Facts
- Abiy said Ethiopia had received its first 12 Su-35 fighters, a year earlier than expected, and credited Russia's President Vladimir Putin with speeding up delivery.
- Rosoboronexport told a news agency that the first delivery was two Su-35 aircraft.
- Ethiopia will also acquire four S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries, Abiy said, with delivery in a later phase.
- The value of the deal, the S-400 delivery date and where the aircraft and missiles will be based were not disclosed.
- A rebel offensive in Tigray began in September 2026; government forces entered the regional capital, Mekelle, on October 4, but fighting continues.
- Ethiopia has cut ties with Eritrea, which it accuses of backing the rebels; Eritrea denies this.
Why It Matters
The Su-35 is an advanced Russian multirole fighter, and the S-400 is Russia's long-range air defence system, able to track and shoot down aircraft and missiles at long distances. For a country in the Horn of Africa, this is a major step up in military power. It would give Ethiopia's air force a modern fighter fleet and, once the S-400s arrive, a strong shield over its airspace.
The timing explains why the purchase matters. The war in Tigray between 2020 and 2022 killed hundreds of thousands of people before a peace deal. A rebel alliance relaunched fighting in September, and tensions with Eritrea have flared, with Addis Ababa accusing its neighbour of supporting the rebels. Federal troops are also fighting Fano, an armed group in the neighbouring Amhara region, so the army is stretched across more than one front. New jets and air defences can shift the balance in a conflict and also signal strength to regional rivals.
The deal also shows Russia using its arms industry as a tool of diplomacy in Africa. Announcing the jets at a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow turned a weapons delivery into a diplomatic message about Moscow's reach.
For India, the Horn of Africa sits beside the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping routes that link Indian ports with Europe. A wider war involving Ethiopia and Eritrea would add to the security pressures already facing those waters.
| Ethiopia's Russian arms deal | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | October 28, 2026, in Moscow |
| Su-35 fighters | Abiy: first 12 received; Rosoboronexport: first batch of 2 |
| S-400 batteries | 4, delivery later |
| Deal value | Not disclosed |
| Context | Renewed Tigray fighting since September 2026 |
Impact
Short-term: The new jets strengthen the Ethiopian government's air power as fighting continues in Tigray and tensions with Eritrea stay high.
Long-term: Once the S-400 batteries arrive, Ethiopia's air defences will be much stronger, and the deal ties its armed forces more closely to Russian equipment, training and spare parts.
Who is affected: Civilians in Tigray and border areas, Ethiopia's neighbours including Eritrea, Western governments weighing their policy towards Addis Ababa, and countries such as India that depend on stable Red Sea shipping lanes.
Key Takeaway
Ethiopia says it has received Russian Su-35 fighters and will buy four S-400 batteries, though Russia says only two jets came in the first batch, as war returns to Tigray.
Questions and Answers
What is Abiy Ahmed's Russia fighter jets deal?
Ethiopia's prime minister said on October 28, 2026 that Ethiopia had received Russian Su-35 fighter jets and would buy four S-400 air defence batteries. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
How many Su-35 jets has Ethiopia received?
Abiy said the first 12 had arrived, but Russia's arms exporter Rosoboronexport said the first batch was two aircraft, so the exact number delivered so far is unclear.
Why is Ethiopia buying Russian weapons now?
The purchase comes as a rebel offensive in Tigray, begun in September 2026, continues and as Ethiopia has cut ties with Eritrea, which it accuses of backing the rebels.
What is the S-400?
It is Russia's long-range surface-to-air missile system, designed to detect and shoot down aircraft and missiles over a wide area.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rohan Saluja, Geopolitics EditorCovers Geopolitics and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Rohan Saluja
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Rohan Saluja is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
