Ethiopia has taken delivery of 12 Russian-made fighter jets and announced plans to acquire four advanced air defence system batteries, in a military development unfolding against the backdrop of escalating tensions with neighbouring Eritrea.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the delivery on Wednesday as he attended the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, where leaders and delegations from 48 African countries gathered for discussions on security, diplomacy and economic cooperation.
In a statement posted on X, Abiy said Ethiopia had received its first 12 Su-35 fighter jets under an earlier agreement with the Russian government.
“We have today taken delivery of the first twelve Su-35 4++ Generation fighter jets,” he said.
The prime minister provided no further details about the delivery but disclosed that Ethiopia would also receive four batteries of Russia’s S-400 air defence system.
Abiy described the acquisition as a “historic achievement”, arguing that it would strengthen the country’s capacity to safeguard its security and contribute to regional stability.
The announcement comes amid heightened friction between Ethiopia and Eritrea, whose relations have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks.
Ethiopian forces have reportedly advanced towards the Eritrean border after repelling an offensive by Eritrea-backed rebels in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. The two countries severed diplomatic ties this month, deepening concerns over the possibility of renewed confrontation in the Horn of Africa.
The military build-up has drawn attention to the fragile security situation between the neighbours, whose relationship has been shaped by years of conflict, rivalry and uneasy reconciliation.
Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has expressed concern over the security implications of Ethiopia’s landlocked status and its reported interest in securing access to the Red Sea.
Both countries’ leaders are attending the Russia-Africa summit, creating a potential opening for diplomatic engagement despite the strained relations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow was interested in helping Ethiopia and Eritrea normalise their relations.
“We are interested in Ethiopia and Eritrea normalising their relations,” Lavrov said, adding that Russia would “provide every opportunity for arranging contact” between the two sides during the summit.
The acquisition of the Su-35 aircraft, alongside the planned S-400 deliveries, signals Ethiopia’s continued investment in its military capabilities at a time of heightened regional uncertainty.
However, the announcement did not establish when the additional air defence systems would arrive or provide details of their deployment.
With diplomatic relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara severed and military tensions rising along their shared frontier, the summit presents a critical opportunity for engagement. Whether Moscow’s mediation efforts can ease the distrust between the two neighbours remains uncertain as Ethiopia strengthens its defence posture.
