It has used its position to act as a reseller of arms to other African nations, such as Burundi and Somalia.

Many of its major weapons systems stem from the Communist era and are of Soviet and Eastern bloc design.

The United States was Ethiopia’s major arms supplier from the end of World War 2 until 1977, when Ethiopia began receiving massive arms shipments from the Soviet Union.

These shipments, including armored patrol boats, transport and jet fighter aircraft, helicopters, tanks, trucks, missiles, artillery, and small arms have incurred an unserviced Ethiopian debt to the former Soviet Union estimated at more than $3.5 billion.

Since 1991, there remains a continuing influx of arms from former Eastern bloc countries (Russia, Czech Republic, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Hungary), yet also increasing use of Western equipment (US, Germany, UK, and France), and purchases from Israel and China.

Ground Equipment
• Tanks: 170 T-54/55, 50 T-62, 50 T-72.[21]
• IFV/APCs: 25 BMP-1, 110 M113, 10 BTR-152, 14 BTR-60.
• Reconnaissance vehicles: 250 BRDM-2.
• Artillery: 5 2S1(M1974), 17 M109.

Aircraft
• Helicopters: 8 Mi-6 (Hook), 14 Mi-14 (Haze), 14 Mi-17 (Hip), 15 Mi-24 (Hind), 3 SA 316 Alouette III, 4 SA 330 Puma.
• Fighter aircraft: 21 MiG-21 (Fishbed), 12 Su-27 (Flanker)[21].
• Ground attack Aircraft: 32 MiG-23BN (Flogger)[21], 4 Su-25 (Frogfoot).
• Cargo aircraft:An-2 kukuruznik (Colt), An-12 (Cub), An-26 (Curl), An-32 (Cline), 3 C-130 Hercules.
• Trainer aircraft: 5 SF.260TP, 14 L-39 Albatros.

Weapons
• Assault Rifles: AK-47, Heckler & Koch G3 .
• Machine Guns: PKM, DSHK .
• Anti-tank missiles: 22 M220 BGM-71 TOW.
• Air-to-air missiles:10 R-73 (AA-11 Archer), R-27 (AA-10 Alamo)

Keywords: Ground equipment, aircraft, weapons, Assault Rifles, Helicopters, Tanks, IFV/APCs, Reconnaissance vehicles, Artillery, Fighter aircraft, Ground attack Aircraft, Cargo aircraft, Trainer aircraft, Machine Guns, Anti-tank missiles, Air-to-air missiles

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