Aviation Exhibition 2026 Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Aviation Exhibition 2026 is a major international event currently underway, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Ethiopian Air Force. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inaugurated it on January 23, 2026, emphasizing its importance in positioning Ethiopia as Africa's leading aviation center. The Ethiopian Air Force was founded in 1929 by Emperor Haile Selassie I, making it one of the oldest air forces in sub-Saharan Africa. Its first aircraft were a Potez 25-A2 and two Brequet 19s, purchased from France. The Ethiopian Air Force participated in the Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936). from the 1960s, the IEAF was heavily engaged in counter-insurgency operations against Eritrean separatist guerrillas; during the war against Somalia, the Soviet Union orchestrated a massive airlift of equipment and Cuban personnel; throughout the 1980s, the air force (now often called the Ethiopian Air Force, EAF) was engaged in relentless campaigns against Eritrean and Tigrayan rebels; as the rebel advances (Derg 1991) culminated, the EAF's infrastructure was overrun; This conflict - Eritrean-Ethiopian War (1998–2000) - acted as a major catalyst. Ethiopia purchased Sukhoi Su-27s (Flankers) and MiG-21s from Russia, and Su-25s from Georgia. The Su-27s, flown by Russian and Ukrainian contract pilots, achieved air superiority over Eritrea's MiG-29s, a significant milestone; the EAF supported AU peacekeeping missions (AMISOM in Somalia) and conducted counter-insurgency operations domestically; Tigray War (2020–2022); the air force faces significant challenges due to U.S. sanctions (stemming from the Tigray War), which limit access to Western technology and spare parts, leading to maintenance and readiness issues. Its development reflects Ethiopia's shifting foreign policy: from French/Swedish to American and Soviet, and finally to a multipolar dependence on Russia, China, and other powers. The crucial role of the air force is that in every major conflict—the Ogaden War, Eritrean independence, the 1998–2000 war, and the Tigray War—air superiority has been a decisive, often war-deciding, factor. The air force has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, underscoring its strategic importance to the Ethiopian state. The Tigray War confirmed the central role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in modern African conflicts—a trend that Ethiopia has embraced. The Ethiopian Air Force remains a central institution, crucial for national sovereignty, regional influence, and internal security in a historically unstable region. The exhibition, featuring the Black Lion Air Show, will take place from January 23 to the end of January 2026 in Bishoftu (near Addis Ababa). Modern aircraft, drones, and aviation technologies will be showcased by international participants, including companies from the United Arab Emirates, Russia, China, India, and South Africa. Under the motto "Flying into the Future, Building a Shared Future" (a nod to the Air Show's theme, "Where Lions Rule the Skies"), the exhibition promotes technological advancement, the training of skilled professionals, and regional cooperation. The event attracts local and international stakeholders to strengthen Ethiopia's leadership in aerospace. The Expo's theme is "Let's Build Future Aviation Capabilities Together."

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