Ethiopia Says It Acquired 12 Russian Fighter Jets Amid Rising Tensions With Eritrea

MOSCOW, Russia — Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets and expects to receive four S-400 air defense systems from Moscow, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Wednesday, as tensions with neighboring Eritrea escalate.

Abiy said the aircraft arrived a year ahead of schedule, crediting Russian President Vladimir Putin for helping accelerate the delivery. He described the acquisitions as a milestone in strengthening Ethiopia’s national security and deterring potential aggression.

The announcement comes amid a worsening dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which have exchanged accusations over military activity along their shared border and support for armed groups in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. 

The two countries severed diplomatic ties in early October, deepening concerns that renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia could spill across the border. Their relationship has deteriorated in recent years, despite a 2018 peace agreement that ended decades of hostility.

Ethiopia has called for sovereign access to the Red Sea, a demand that has heightened tensions with Eritrea, which controls a strategic stretch of the coastline.

The Su-35 is a Russian-made multirole fighter designed for air combat and ground-attack missions. The aircraft can reach speeds of about 2,400 kilometers per hour at high altitude and is capable of operating over long distances.

The S-400 is a Russian long-range air defense system designed to track and intercept aircraft and various types of missiles. Abiy did not say when the systems would be delivered or where the aircraft and defense batteries would be deployed.

He also did not disclose the value of the deal.

Ethiopia faces multiple security challenges, including renewed fighting in Tigray, where clashes between federal forces and armed groups have threatened a 2022 agreement that ended a devastating two-year war.

The country’s military has used drones and other imported weapons in recent conflicts. The acquisition of the Russian aircraft and air defense systems could expand its military capabilities, though the effect on regional security will depend on their deployment and operational readiness.

GAROWE ONLINE