Ethiopia possesses 'Su-35'.. Israeli media: Africa's skies are no longer Egypt's monopoly - Sarmad

The Israeli website “Netsev Net” claimed that the skies of Africa are no longer the exclusive domain of Egypt, following Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s announcement two days ago of the supply of 12 advanced Su-35 fighter jets, alongside plans to purchase S-400 systems.

The website added that this significantly alters the air and strategic balance of power vis-à-vis Egypt, granting Ethiopia an unprecedented deterrent capability and greatly complicating any prospect of a military operation by Egypt against Ethiopian strategic assets, particularly the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The website continued: “This development neutralizes Egypt’s long-range and air superiority. The Su-35 is a 4++ generation fighter, distinguished by its exceptional maneuverability, powerful long-range radar, and advanced weapon systems; it was originally designed to counter Western air superiority aircraft. Although Egypt possesses a large fleet, it lacks a heavy long-range aircraft capable of directly confronting the Su-35 on equal terms.”

According to the same source, “the armament of Egypt’s F-16 aircraft restricts the capabilities of its air force, which operates a large fleet of these jets, but is severely limited in beyond-visual-range combat capabilities due to U.S. restrictions. The Ethiopian Su-35 can detect and engage these aircraft from long distances before they can respond.”

It further stated: “Egypt’s Rafale and MiG-29 aircraft, which are more advanced than the F-16, face range challenges, as there are no shared borders between Egypt and Ethiopia. Consequently, any operational flight from Egypt to Ethiopia would require traversing vast distances. Egyptian fighter jets would reach the end of their operational range, relying on complex aerial refueling operations, where they would have to face Ethiopia’s new Su-35 aircraft, which operate from their own territory and enjoy a full advantage.”

It added: “With the Su-35 aircraft, alongside Ethiopia’s intention to deploy four batteries of the advanced Russian S-400 air defense system, a tight closure of the airspace around the GERD is formed. This means that any scenario Egypt considers regarding a ‘military option’ or a precision strike against the dam becomes nearly impossible, with very high risks of aircraft losses and mission failure.”

The report also noted: “In recent years, Egypt has used its traditional military superiority as an implicit threat in the context of negotiations over the sharing of Nile waters. However, the modernization of the Ethiopian Air Force removes this card from Cairo’s hand. Abiy Ahmed affirmed that this deal aims to ‘deter any aggression proactively,’ sending a direct message to Egypt that Ethiopia now feels secure enough to assert its presence on the ground without fear of a military response.”

According to the Israeli website, “the current deal explains why Egypt has sought in recent years to diversify its military procurement sources, avoiding dependence on the United States (which denies it a decisive weapon): Egypt previously canceled a deal for Su-35 aircraft with Russia due to threats of Western sanctions. In response to air challenges, Egypt is expanding its fleet of French Rafale aircraft (including receiving F3R variants equipped with long-range missiles), while simultaneously turning toward China, hoping to purchase modern J-10C fighter jets to narrow the technological gap with the growing Ethiopian Air Force.”

The report concluded: “The supply of these aircraft to Ethiopia erases Egypt’s offensive air superiority, which it enjoyed for decades in the region, making Ethiopia the dominant air power in the Horn of Africa. This shift consolidates Ethiopia’s sovereignty over the dam project and forces Egypt to acknowledge that its military tools