Ethiopia receives 12 Russian Su-35 jets, plans S-400 acquisition

Ethiopia has received 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and will also acquire four S-400 air defence batteries, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced. Abiy made the announcement on X on Wednesday during a visit to Moscow for the two-day Russia-Africa Summit, where Russia is seeking closer security and economic ties with African countries. The acquisition comes as Ethiopian forces fight renewed battles with rebels in northern Tigray and a separate rebellion in the neighbouring Amhara region. The prime minister said the warplanes had arrived a year earlier than expected under an existing agreement with Moscow, thanking Russian President Vladimir Putin for helping speed up the delivery.