Ethiopia Eyes Air Force Expansion, Modernization, New Acquisitions
Ethiopia Eyes Air Force Expansion, Modernization, New Acquisitions
Tony Osborne
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, January 26, 2026
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali says he wants to make the country’s air force a “fifth-generation” service in the 2030s.
Speaking at the country’s Black Lion Airshow—an event marking the 90th anniversary of the Ethiopian Air Force—he said the service would see its fleet of combat aircraft double in size and the country would have a more “robust and sophisticated aerial defense.”
“Our objective is to achieve victory by minimizing human loss through advanced technology, precision strikes, and superior capability,” Abiy said in comments reported by the Ethiopian News Agency. He added that his government had also planned and identified partners to grow the air arm.
His comments come as Ethiopia has been looking to Russia for air force expansion. The static and aerial displays of the event—being held at Bishoftu airbase, south of Addis Ababa on Jan. 23–27—revealed that the air force has taken delivery of Yakovlev Yak-130s and the Kronshtadt Orion uncrewed aircraft system, making Ethiopia the first confirmed export customer for the UAS.
According to Russian defense think-tank Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), Ethiopia may have ordered up to 10 Yak-130 trainers. Judging by the side numbers of the aircraft displayed at Bishoftu airbase—2301 to 2306—at least six jets have already been delivered.
The new Russian aircraft can be used for operational conversion of Ethiopian pilots for heavy Sukhoi fighters, CAST deputy director Maksim Shepovalenko told Aviation Week. Front-line fighters used by the air force include both Su-27s and Su-30K multi-role fighters, the latter acquired from refurbished former Indian Air Force stocks.
Several reports have suggested that the Ethiopian Air Force also has taken delivery of its first Sukhoi Su-35s. Images published online show what appears to be another Flanker variant parked elsewhere on the airfield, but the images are difficult to verify.
Ethiopia has been associated with a potential order of eight examples of that aircraft, but it is unclear why the aircraft would not participate in the event if it had been delivered.
It is more likely that it is another possibly disused Flanker model with a sun-bleached paint scheme that is being used for spares.
Ethiopia’s Yak-130s feature underwing mounts for missiles, which enables them to operate as light ground attack aircraft, Shepovalenko adds.
Other Ethiopian assets on display included Russian and Italian-sourced rotorcraft, Aero Vodochody L-39 jet trainers, Grob G120TP turboprop trainers as well as de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo and Lockheed C-130 Hercules turboprop transports.
Also present at the show was a sizeable contingent from the United Arab Emirates Air Force including three Lockheed Martin F-16E/Fs, three Mirage 2000-9s and six Boeing AH-64 Apaches, all of which flew in the airshow displays.
A paper by the country’s Institute of Foreign Affairs said the presence of the UAE Armed Force’s demonstrated the land-locked African country’s “expanding defense relationships” beyond Africa and suggested “growing interoperability with Gulf partners.”
In an exhibition hall at the event, industry from countries including Belarus, China, and Turkey displayed their wares, while domestic companies revealed progress on locally developed uncrewed aircraft systems.
Abiy admitted that the air force had not received “consistent and adequate capacity building in line with its age and responsibilities,” but said that air force growth would be linked with economic growth. Ethiopia achieved around 6.7% to 8.1% growth in gross domestic product in 2024 according to several international organizations including the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank. Abiy said such growth can only be sustained “with a strong and balanced security architecture.”
The Institute of Foreign Affairs paper said that the growth and modernization of the service could turn the air force into a “multidomain, regionally assertive air power,” that could “significantly alter the regional balance of power,” with implications for its neighbors.
Tony Osborne
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, January 26, 2026
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali says he wants to make the country’s air force a “fifth-generation” service in the 2030s.
Speaking at the country’s Black Lion Airshow—an event marking the 90th anniversary of the Ethiopian Air Force—he said the service would see its fleet of combat aircraft double in size and the country would have a more “robust and sophisticated aerial defense.”
“Our objective is to achieve victory by minimizing human loss through advanced technology, precision strikes, and superior capability,” Abiy said in comments reported by the Ethiopian News Agency. He added that his government had also planned and identified partners to grow the air arm.
His comments come as Ethiopia has been looking to Russia for air force expansion. The static and aerial displays of the event—being held at Bishoftu airbase, south of Addis Ababa on Jan. 23–27—revealed that the air force has taken delivery of Yakovlev Yak-130s and the Kronshtadt Orion uncrewed aircraft system, making Ethiopia the first confirmed export customer for the UAS.
According to Russian defense think-tank Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), Ethiopia may have ordered up to 10 Yak-130 trainers. Judging by the side numbers of the aircraft displayed at Bishoftu airbase—2301 to 2306—at least six jets have already been delivered.
The new Russian aircraft can be used for operational conversion of Ethiopian pilots for heavy Sukhoi fighters, CAST deputy director Maksim Shepovalenko told Aviation Week. Front-line fighters used by the air force include both Su-27s and Su-30K multi-role fighters, the latter acquired from refurbished former Indian Air Force stocks.
Several reports have suggested that the Ethiopian Air Force also has taken delivery of its first Sukhoi Su-35s. Images published online show what appears to be another Flanker variant parked elsewhere on the airfield, but the images are difficult to verify.
Ethiopia has been associated with a potential order of eight examples of that aircraft, but it is unclear why the aircraft would not participate in the event if it had been delivered.
It is more likely that it is another possibly disused Flanker model with a sun-bleached paint scheme that is being used for spares.
Ethiopia’s Yak-130s feature underwing mounts for missiles, which enables them to operate as light ground attack aircraft, Shepovalenko adds.
Other Ethiopian assets on display included Russian and Italian-sourced rotorcraft, Aero Vodochody L-39 jet trainers, Grob G120TP turboprop trainers as well as de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo and Lockheed C-130 Hercules turboprop transports.
Also present at the show was a sizeable contingent from the United Arab Emirates Air Force including three Lockheed Martin F-16E/Fs, three Mirage 2000-9s and six Boeing AH-64 Apaches, all of which flew in the airshow displays.
A paper by the country’s Institute of Foreign Affairs said the presence of the UAE Armed Force’s demonstrated the land-locked African country’s “expanding defense relationships” beyond Africa and suggested “growing interoperability with Gulf partners.”
In an exhibition hall at the event, industry from countries including Belarus, China, and Turkey displayed their wares, while domestic companies revealed progress on locally developed uncrewed aircraft systems.
Abiy admitted that the air force had not received “consistent and adequate capacity building in line with its age and responsibilities,” but said that air force growth would be linked with economic growth. Ethiopia achieved around 6.7% to 8.1% growth in gross domestic product in 2024 according to several international organizations including the United Nations Development Program and the World Bank. Abiy said such growth can only be sustained “with a strong and balanced security architecture.”
The Institute of Foreign Affairs paper said that the growth and modernization of the service could turn the air force into a “multidomain, regionally assertive air power,” that could “significantly alter the regional balance of power,” with implications for its neighbors.