Ethiopia acquires Russian fighter jets and air defence systems amid war in Tigray
The acquisition of the warplanes comes amid ongoing fighting in northern Tigray region that started last month.
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.
According to him, the jets are highly maneuverable and capable of covering large areas, with radars capable of ensuring air superiority and long-range scanning.