According to the same leaked document that outlined Russia’s plans to supply Iran with 48 Su-35S fighters, Moscow also reportedly planned the sale of up to six new aircraft of the same model to the Ethiopian Air Force — a deal that has not yet been officially confirmed. If finalized, the acquisition would represent a major step forward in the modernization of Ethiopia’s combat fleet and stands out as part of a broader set of sales that have recently come to light.
Addis Ababa had already begun modernizing its Air Force with the purchase of Russian-made Su-30K fighters. The first two aircraft were delivered to Ethiopian pilots in January 2024, marking a significant boost in the country’s air capabilities. These Su-30Ks were originally built in the 1990s for the Indian Air Force, which returned them to Russia in 2007 for resale. Of the 18 aircraft in that batch, six were acquired by Ethiopia, while the remaining twelve went to Angola.
Continuing its modernization strategy, the Ethiopian Air Force has also incorporated Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı drones — HALE-class unmanned aerial systems capable of flying at altitudes up to 11,000 meters and remaining airborne for 25 hours. Each drone can carry various types of precision-guided bombs, missiles, and sensor kits integrated with artificial intelligence for advanced signal processing and situational awareness.
In this way, the country received an important complement to other types of drones already serving in the Ethiopian Air Force, primarily reconnaissance and ground attack systems. Specifically, we are referring to the Bayraktar TB2S drones, also of Turkish origin, the Iranian-made Qods Mohajer-6, and finally, the Wing Loong drones from China.
Finally, according to the same leaked correspondence from Radioelectronic Technologies which was obtained by a group of hackers, the document also mentions planned deliveries to Algeria. These include 12 Su-57 fifth-generation fighters, which would make Algeria the first foreign customer for the platform, as well as 14 new Su-34 fighter-bombers, several of which have already been spotted during test flights over Zhukovsky.
*Images used for illustrative purposes only.
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