4 publishers · first seen Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:19 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:32 UTC
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the arrival of a dozen Russian Su-35 fighter jets, with four S-400 air defense systems to be delivered later, describing the deliveries as a milestone in strengthening national security and deterring aggression. Abiy stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin helped deliver the Su-35 jets a year ahead of schedule, though he did not disclose the agreement's value or deployment locations.
The military acquisitions come amid renewed conflict in northern Tigray, where a rebel alliance launched an offensive last month, reigniting tensions after the 2020–2022 war. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting the rebels, a claim Eritrea denies. Abiy emphasized the need to build capacity with both drones and fourth-generation aircraft like the Su-35, which can detect and neutralize cruise missiles up to 200km away.
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