Confirmed Arms Transfers To The Ethiopian Military During The Tigray War

By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans
 

An air bridge between Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran has sought to equip Ethiopia with the weapons it needs to defeat the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF) in the Tigray War. Despite totalling some 140 flights by January 2022, relatively little is known about the types of arms and equipment delivered to the embattled Ethiopian military. [1] This is not in the least through the enforcement of strong operational security rules (OPSEC) throughout the entirety of the ENDF, forbidding soldiers to take photos of their equipment. Prior to the outbreak of the Tigray War, Ethiopia was known for its laxity in adhering to proper OPSEC procedures, a welcome fact for analysts like us.

In an effort to turn the tide in the ongoing Tigray War, Ethiopia has invested heavily in the acquisition of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) from a number of countries around the world. This has included Iran, which delivered at least two Mohajer-6s in August 2021, China, from which Ethiopia received three Wing Loong I in September 2021, and the United Arab Emirates, which deployed at least six of its own Wing Loong Is to Harar Meda air base in November 2021. [2] [3] [4] A number of Emirati-delivered VTOL UCAVs also continue to see service in Ethiopia. [5]

Less is known about the types of ground weaponry delivered to the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF). The country's original inventory of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) and towed artillery pieces appears to have been sufficient to replace combat losses and the capture of some 100 tanks and 70 artillery pieces by Tigray forces. [6] In contrast, the ENDF lost all of its large-calibre multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), guided rocket and ballistic missile systems when Tigray forces overran their bases in the Tigray Region. [7] [8] The delivery of equipment such as large-calibre rocket artillery thus seems plausible.

 

This list aims to catalogue the equipment types known to have been supplied to Ethiopia during the Tigray War. Each flag indicates the source of the equipment rather the country that produced it. Click on the equipment type to get a picture of them.

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs)

• 2+ Mohajer-6 [August 2021]
  
• 3 Wing Loong I [September 2021]
• 6 Wing Loong I [November 2021] (Operated by the UAE)
  
• ? Unknown VTOL UCAV [Summer 2021]

(Guided) Munitions (For UCAVs)

• Ghaem-5 PGMs [August 2021]
  
• 50+ TL-2 AGMs [November 2021]
• Blue Arrow 7 AGMs [November 2021] (Used by the UAE)
  
• 120mm mortar grenades [Summer 2021]