Ethiopia has begun receiving Russian-built Su-35 fighters as part of an announced 12-aircraft acquisition, with four S-400 air defence batteries also planned as part of its ongoing military modernisation.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on 28 October 2026 that the country was acquiring 12 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia and that deliveries had begun, alongside plans to acquire four S-400 long-range air defence batteries.
The announcement coincided with Abiy's visit to Moscow for the third Russia–Africa Summit. Russian state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport also confirmed the handover of Su-35 fighters to the Ethiopian Air Force at Zhukovsky, near Moscow.
According to Abiy, the aircraft were supplied under an existing agreement with Russia, with deliveries taking place a year ahead of the original schedule. He thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for facilitating the early delivery.
Ethiopia Expands Its Sukhoi Fleet
The Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine multirole fighter developed from the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker family, incorporating updated avionics, electronic warfare equipment and thrust-vectoring engines.
The aircraft is equipped with the N035 Irbis-E passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar, capable of tracking up to 30 airborne targets and engaging eight simultaneously. According to manufacturer United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the radar can detect aerial targets at distances of up to 350 km under specified conditions.
Powered by two Saturn 117S afterburning turbofan engines, the Su-35 can reach Mach 2.25 and carry up to 8,000 kg of external stores across 12 weapon stations.
The aircraft is marketed as a '4++ generation' fighter, reflecting its advanced systems and performance within the fourth-generation fighter category.
Ethiopia is already an established operator of Russian-built combat aircraft. Its air force has operated Su-27 fighters since the late 1990s and expanded its Sukhoi fleet in January 2024 with the introduction of two Su-30 multirole fighters.
The Su-35 acquisition adds a newer variant of the Flanker family to Ethiopia's combat aircraft inventory, introducing updated radar, propulsion and electronic warfare technology.
Four S-400 Air Defence Batteries Planned
Alongside the fighter deliveries, Ethiopia has announced plans to receive four S-400 Triumf long-range air defence batteries from Russia.
The acquisition would expand Ethiopia's existing ground-based air defence inventory, which includes Russian Pantsir-S1 short-range systems and older Soviet-designed surface-to-air missile equipment.
The planned S-400 systems would provide an additional long-range capability alongside the country's existing air defence equipment.
Abiy described the acquisitions as part of Ethiopia's efforts to strengthen military readiness and national security.
The Ethiopian government has not disclosed the financial terms of the agreements, the intended operating bases for the Su-35 fleet or a delivery timetable for the S-400 systems.
