Ethiopian Air Force
(Ye Ityopya Ayer Hayl, ETAF)

By 1991, some 4,500 officers and airmen operated approximately 150 combat aircraft, most of them Soviet-manufactured fighter-bombers. A small number of the aircraft were transports and armed helicopters. The air force's tactical organization included seven fighter-ground attack squadrons, one transport squadron, and one training squadron. Approximately seventy-nine helicopters performed reconnaissance, transport, and ground support missions.

The air force's command headquarters was south of Addis Ababa at Debre Zeyit, the site of the major air base, training center, and maintenance workshop. Other air bases were at Asmera, Bahir Dar, Azezo, Goba, Dire Dawa, and Jijiga. (A base at Mekele had been captured by the Tigray People's Liberation Front in 1989.)

Russian-based Sukhoi Design Bureau was contracted to provide Su-27s to Ethiopia for its war with Eritrea. Although Ethiopia was anxious for modern aircraft, the country lacked trained aviators. As part of the sales agreement, Sukhoi reportedly included former Russian military pilots, mechanics, and ground personnel on contract, in effect delivering a small, but complete, air force.

In 1996, the US Government donated four C-130B aircraft to Ethiopia. The first two were refurbished an delivered in 1998. While the second two aircraft were being overhauled, Ethiopia went to war with Eritrea, and, as a result, the second set of planes was diverted to other countries. Ethiopia signed an US$11 million FMS case for spare parts support, which they paid for with a combination of FMF and national funds. Since 2002, Ethiopia had not received any additional maintenance or technical support from the USG, and, as a result, one of the aircraft fell into disrepair and had not flown since 2002.

In January 2007, a technical team evaluated the entire ENDF C-130 program and found excellent maintenance capabilities but a critical lack of spare parts and maintenance equipment. The team estimated that approximately US$13-17 million was required to provide all necessary parts, equipment, and training, to support the aircraft for the coming two years. This included all necessary work to make the second C-130B airworthy. In 2006, state-run Ethiopian Airlines donated two Lockheed L-100-30s to the ENDF. Both aircraft were in excellent condition.

Eighteen Su-30K fighter jets that India returned to Russia, probably will not be sold to Vietnam, but instead is Ethiopia. Deputy Group Director arms exporter Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev said July 3, 2013 that Russia was negotiating to supply 18 Su-30K fighters to Ethiopia. Eighteen multipurpose fighters were returned to India to replace the Russian fighter Su-30MKI. “We are in consultation with Ethiopia for the supply of the fighter. They have proposed a variant to modernize, enhance combat capability as well as the specification and provide additional tactics the rocket – to – land/sea more advanced,” said Mikheyev said.

Complete 18 Su-30K aircraft the IAF were not used in 10 years time, then returned to Russia. This aircraft was delivered to some 5 factories in Belarus to repair and upgrade, before being sold to 3rd party without giving back to Russia to avoid import taxes.

Foreign buyers of Russian-made military equipment will now be able to take a good look at the Sukhoi Su-34 strike fighters which have been actively engaged in the Russian-led aerial campaign targeting extremists in Syria and hailed as the best hardware Moscow can offer, military expert Igor Korotchenko told RIA Novosti 19 October 2015. "Several countries in Africa, including Uganda and Nigeria, which is waging a war against Boko Haram, could buy the Su-34. Strike fighters could also strengthen Ethiopia's Air Force, which operates aging Sukhoi Su-27 fighters," Korotchenko noted.