Ethiopia Announces Receipt of 12 Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets
Abiy Ahmed announces receipt of 12 Su-35 aircraft and 4 S-400 systems to bolster national security
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Wednesday that Ethiopia has received 12 Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets and will later receive four S-400 air defense systems from Moscow, as part of a campaign aimed at bolstering its military capabilities.
Abiy stated on the X platform that these shipments mark a milestone in Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen national security and “preventive deterrence against aggression.”
He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin helped ensure the delivery of the fourth-generation Su-35 military aircraft a year ahead of the scheduled date.
Abiy did not disclose the value of the deal, the delivery date for the S-400 systems, or where the aircraft and air defense batteries will be stationed.
Ethiopia faces multiple security challenges, including in the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, where a rebel alliance launched an attack against the government last month, reigniting a war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives between 2020 and 2022.
Russia’s Rostec, the state-owned corporation responsible for Russian arms exports, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
