Ethiopia Says It Received 12 Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia received 12 Su-35 fighters from Russia on October 28, 2026, under an earlier government agreement.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Representative image. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense / Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia received 12 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia on October 28, 2026. He said the delivery fulfilled an earlier agreement between the two governments.
Key details
- Abiy said the jets arrived a year ahead of schedule and credited Russian President Vladimir Putin with helping secure the early delivery.
- Abiy also said Ethiopia expects to receive four S-400 air-defence batteries; his statement did not give a delivery date.
- Abiy made the announcement while in Russia for the third Russia–Africa Summit.
Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia received 12 Su-35 fighters from Russia on October 28, 2026.
Why it matters
The reported delivery adds Russian-built Su-35 fighters to Ethiopia’s military aircraft inventory and highlights an aircraft agreement between the Ethiopian and Russian governments.
What happens next
Ethiopia’s reported aircraft delivery marks a new stage in its agreement with Russia. What developments in military aviation will you be watching next?
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