The facts
Abiy said the fighter delivery came a year ahead of schedule and thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ethiopia’s state news agency reported the announcement as Abiy attended the Russia–Africa summit. [1][2]
The War Zone described the Su-35 acquisition as a significant capability increase over Ethiopia’s existing Russian-designed fighter fleet. [2]
The Su-35 derives from the Su-27 fighter and can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, The War Zone reported. [2]
Still unconfirmed
- All 12 aircraft’s arrival locations and operational status have not been independently verified. Financial terms and basing details remain undisclosed in the checked reports. The S-400 delivery date is unknown; the batteries are planned, not confirmed delivered.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 29 Oct 2026, 03:14 UTC.
The original social-media statement was not directly retrieved. Ethiopian News Agency reproduces Abiy’s announcement, while independently owned The War Zone reviews the announcement, imagery and military context. The delivery count is explicitly attributed to Abiy.
- Ethiopia Takes Delivery of 12 Su-35 Fighter Jets: PM Abiy
Ethiopian News Agency · Reporting · 28 Oct 2026
State-owned agency’s account of the prime minister’s announcement.
- Ethiopia Gets 12 Russian Su-35 Fighters, Eyes S-400 Air Defenses
The War Zone · Reporting · 28 Oct 2026
Recurrent-owned specialist reporting; shares the underlying Abiy statement, with separate military analysis.