Arms Delivery in Moscow
Standing in Moscow on October 28, 2026, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that Ethiopia had received 12 Su-35 fighter jets and would soon take delivery of four S-400 air defense batteries. Abiy thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for accelerating the delivery schedule by one year, characterizing the acquisition as a step toward “preventive deterrence.”
However, official accounts of the transaction differ. Rosoboronexport, the Russian state arms exporter, confirmed to Reuters that the initial shipment arriving that day included only two aircraft. The total financial value of the contract and the timeline for the remaining equipment remain undisclosed.
The deal occurs as Ethiopia faces internal instability, including renewed conflict in Tigray, an insurgency in the Amhara region, and ongoing friction with neighboring Eritrea. Modernizing air defense capabilities serves Addis Ababa’s strategic goals, while Russia seeks to maintain its presence in African arms markets despite Western sanctions.
Comparison to Egyptian Procurement
The Ethiopian acquisition contrasts with a failed 2018 agreement between Egypt and Russia. Cairo had signed a deal for over 20 Su-35 fighters valued at approximately $2 billion. That agreement collapsed after the United States issued warnings under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Washington cautioned that proceeding with the purchase could trigger sanctions, potentially jeopardizing Egypt’s military cooperation with the U.S., including access to F-16 spare parts and training programs. As a result, the aircraft were never integrated into the Egyptian Air Force. Ethiopia has not faced similar public pressure or threats of sanctions to date regarding its acquisition of the same aircraft type.