Ethiopia acquires Russian fighter jets and air defence systems amid war in Tigray

Ethiopia has received 12 Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, as fighting intensified in the northern Tigray region neighbouring Eritrea.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is attending the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, described the acquisition as a "milestone" that would boost Ethiopia's defence capacity.

He said Ethiopia and Russia agreed on the deal several years ago and the warplanes had come ahead of schedule. He also said that Ethiopia had plans to acquire four S-400 air defence systems from Moscow.

The Ethiopian leader said the military hardware was essential to protect the country from external threats.

Abiy, who described Russian President Vladimir Putin, "as a close friend of Ethiopia", said Ethiopia had now become the first country in sub‑Saharan Africa to own this kind of "advanced combat technology."

Russia and Ethiopia have signed several military agreements in recent years, including a deal in 2021 to train and improve technology for the military.

Abiy explained that Ethiopia signed an agreement with Russia several years ago to procure the Su‑35 jets and S‑400 systems, citing global air force trends and security threats facing the country.

The Su‑35, he noted, is equipped for both air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground combat, with the ability to detect and neutralize incoming cruise missiles at distances of up to 200 kilometers.

Kaynak: BBC News World RSS (Açık Basın / Haber Servisi)