Ethiopia acquires Russian fighter jets and air defence systems amid war in Tigray

Ethiopia’s Russian package combines offensive aircraft with defensive systems. It includes 12 Su-35 fighter jets, which can fight enemy aircraft and strike targets on the ground. Ethiopia also plans to acquire four S-400 air-defence systems from Moscow.

The Su-35 is designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat. Abiy said it can detect and neutralize incoming cruise missiles at distances of up to 200 kilometers. The aircraft’s maneuverability and radar are also described as tools for scanning large areas and seeking air superiority.

The S-400 systems would add a ground-based shield to the aircraft fleet. The article presents the combination as a way to defend major cities and critical infrastructure, including the Renaissance Dam. Together, the systems are meant to strengthen Ethiopia’s response to external threats while its conflicts and regional tensions continue.

The scale is notable because Ethiopia is not acquiring a single type of weapon. It has received 12 Su-35 fighter jets and has plans for four S-400 air-defence systems. Abiy described the purchase as a milestone and said Ethiopia had become the first sub-Saharan African country to own this kind of advanced combat technology.

The 12 jets provide a mobile force for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Their radars can scan long distances, and the aircraft can cover large areas. The four planned S-400 systems would add fixed or positioned air-defence coverage around important locations. The article does not give a total area or staffing requirement.

Together, the numbers represent a broader defence capability rather than a simple fleet increase. Qalaab Segatu said the purchase suggested preparation for possible wars with other countries, not only internal conflicts. The systems could also support protection of cities, infrastructure, and the Renaissance Dam.

Ethiopia made the agreement several years ago after considering global air-force trends and security threats facing the country. Abiy said the military hardware was essential for protection from external threats. He also said Russia and Ethiopia had reached the deal earlier, with the warplanes arriving ahead of schedule.

The timing overlaps with renewed fighting in northern Tigray. The current conflict began last month between Ethiopia’s government and the TPLF, which controls Tigray. Both sides accuse the other of violating a 2022 agreement that ended a civil war. The article does not say that the Tigray fighting directly caused the delivery.

The conflict nevertheless gives the arrival immediate importance. Ethiopia is fighting an internal conflict while facing tensions with Eritrea and concerns about wider security. Military analyst Qalaab Segatu viewed the additional aircraft as evidence of preparation for possible wars with other countries, not only domestic conflicts.

The military purchase sits within overlapping conflicts and rivalries. Fighting resumed in northern Tigray between Ethiopia’s government and the TPLF, the party controlling Tigray. Both sides blame each other for breaking a 2022 deal that ended a civil war. Ethiopia also accuses Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, an allegation Eritrea denies.

The dispute with Eritrea extends beyond Tigray. Abiy describes Ethiopia’s lack of direct access to the sea as an existential question. Eritrea views that position as a direct threat to its sovereignty. Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993 after a decades-long war, leaving Ethiopia without sea access.

These tensions help explain why Ethiopia emphasizes external threats and advanced air capabilities. The article does not say the jets were purchased specifically for Eritrea or the TPLF. It shows, instead, that the acquisition occurred while Ethiopia faced an internal war, alleged cross-border involvement, and a continuing sovereignty dispute.

The acquisition could strengthen Ethiopia’s military position by combining aircraft that operate across large areas with ground-based air defence. Qalaab Segatu said the aircraft’s maneuverability and radar could help ensure air superiority and provide long-range scanning. The article presents this as a significant capability, though it does not measure the wider regional balance.

The Su-35 can engage aircraft and ground targets. Abiy also said it can detect and neutralize incoming cruise missiles from up to 200 kilometers. The planned S-400 systems would add another layer of protection against airborne threats. Used together, these capabilities could watch airspace, challenge attackers, and defend important locations.

Qalaab specifically named major cities and critical infrastructure such as the Renaissance Dam. The systems therefore matter beyond battlefield operations. They could support deterrence by making attacks more difficult, but the article does not predict how neighbouring countries would respond or describe any confirmed change in the regional balance.

The three tools operate in different but connected ways. Fighter jets provide mobile air power and can conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. S-400 systems add a ground-based air-defence layer. Drones offer another way to support military operations, and Ethiopia has used drones sourced from Turkey and China in recent conflicts.

The key mechanism is combination. Jets can scan large areas with radar, engage aircraft or ground targets, and, according to Abiy, respond to incoming cruise missiles. Air-defence systems can protect important locations from airborne threats. Drones can strengthen deterrence and support operations without replacing the larger aircraft or air-defence network.

Abiy said Ethiopia needed capacity with drones and fourth-generation Su-30 and Su-35 capabilities. Qalaab said the aircraft and air-defence systems together could protect cities and the Renaissance Dam. The article does not specify the drones’ exact missions or how the systems would be coordinated in combat.

Air superiority is the ability to operate effectively in the air while limiting an opponent’s ability to do the same. In the article, this idea is linked to Su-35 jets with strong maneuverability, wide-area coverage, and radars for long-range scanning. It is not simply owning aircraft; it is using them to control or protect the airspace that matters.

Military deterrence works by making a potential attacker believe that aggression would bring serious costs or fail to achieve its goal. Ethiopia’s jets, planned S-400 systems, and drones are presented as connected parts of that message. The aircraft can fight in the air or against ground targets, while air-defence systems help protect cities and infrastructure.

Abiy said building this capability was essential against external threats and warned that countries lacking preparation could struggle to survive in the region. The article reports Ethiopia’s reasoning, but it does not establish that the equipment will prevent conflict or guarantee national security.