Russia Delivers First Su-35 Fighters to Ethiopia

Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport said it has delivered the first batch of Su-35 multirole fighters to the Ethiopian Air Force. The company’s statement gave no number of aircraft, and different figures are circulating from the Ethiopian side.

What Was Announced

According to TASS, Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheyev told Vesti TV the company has delivered the first batch of Su-35s to the Ethiopian Air Force. Mikheyev also said more than 30% of the company’s order book now comes from African countries and that it is “open to dialogue”.

According to Aviacionline, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the delivery on his official X account on the sidelines of the third Russia–Africa summit in Moscow, saying the aircraft arrived a year ahead of the schedule in the bilateral agreement. Abiy also said Ethiopia will receive four S-400 air-defence batteries; no delivery schedule, deployment locations or contract value were given.

How Many Aircraft?

The figures are inconsistent. Aviacionline’s summary cites twelve aircraft, but the body of the same article and a photo caption refer to the “first two Su-35s” presented to Abiy, and the TASS text says only “the first batch”. The total number delivered is therefore not confirmed.

Background

Aviacionline links the deal to regional tensions in the Horn of Africa, including violence in Tigray and deteriorating relations with Eritrea, and notes that Ethiopia received Su-30s in January 2024, though their operational status is unclear. The Su-35s are seen as a major upgrade over the Su-27s that long formed the core of the Ethiopian Air Force.

Note

The report rests on Rosoboronexport’s statement as relayed by TASS and on Abiy Ahmed’s announcement as reported by Aviacionline; neither is independently verified. The image is a file photo.

Originally reported by Envanter Medya.