The Ethiopian Military is the largest in Africa and one of the six best in the world. Its Navy is the third best in the world and its Army and Air-Force are also well respected on the world stage. It is also one of three militaries that maintains a Nuclear deterrant but isn't an NPT signatory.
History
Early Reorganisation
Tribal Wars
1739 Emperor Iyasu II met with the Tribal Leaders who ruled over most of Ethiopia's neighboring lands. Although most of the Tribes submitted to Iyasu's rule some of them challenged his authority with European arms and backing from other states that wanted Ethiopia gone. Unfortunately for those tribes the Imperial Army was well equipped to deal with them and slaughtered most of the tribesmen in a three year campaign that established Ethiopia as East Africa's most powerful nation.
In 1850 the Imperial Army launched another offensive against the Tribes to the south of Ethiopia in a five month campaign during which they conquered most of OTL Somalia. This also laid the foundations of the Imperial Navy and for the upgrades of the Army so by the time of the Italian Wars it was well equipped with rifles and artillery while the Imperial Navy had a fleet of eight modern battleships, ten cruisers, fifteen destroyers and twenty frigates although most of these were reaching the end of their lives and the rifles and artillery used by the army were becoming outdated.
The Mahdist Wars
The Mahdist regime took control of Sudan in 1881 and began fighting the Ottoman rulers of Sudan and Egypt. The Ethiopian Empire ignored most of this fighting until the Ottomans sent a large force to the south of Sudan. Then the Empire intervened to protect its interests in the region, Imperial Army troops launched a large campaign in opposition to both the Mahdists and the Ottomans. This diversion allowed the Mahdists to consolidate their gains in the west while the Ottomans took control of the North and it allowed the Empire to gain control of the south east.
Italian Wars
In 1901 the Kingdom of Italy attacked Ethiopia over the Italian colony of East Africa. Despite a minor technological advantage the Imperial Army rapidly brought up stocks of Mosin Nagant rifles from its own armories as well as from Finland. Using its experience in Somalia to its advantage the Imperial Army defeated the Italians comprehensively just four miles into Ethiopia.
Italy and Ethiopia clashed against in 1935 when the King of Italy wanted to avenge his countries defeat in the first war. Using the full strength of a modern European nation Italy launched a massive attack against the Empire. Unfortunately for the Italians the Empire was just as well equipped and its pilots were much more experienced than the Italians. The Empire again defeated the Italians but this time it took over two years to finally come to a peace treaty in which the Italians finally relinquished the control of East Africa to independent Tribal leaders.
World Wars
North African Wars
Suez Crisis
When the European Powers informed the Ethiopian Government of their desire to re-occupy the Suez Canal the Ethiopian Military made preparations to capture major cities and bases in Sudan and Egypt as well as plotting the capture of Cairo. The Imperial Air Force launched a major attack against the Egyptian Army and Air Force bases in Sudan which allowed the Imperial Army to capture most of Sudan as well as allowing the road to Cairo to be opened up to the men and women of the 1st Armoured which then captured Cairo in May 1951.
Branches
The Imperial Navy is the largest of the Ethiopian armed forces, it benefits from large funding and is also responsible for maintaining most of Ethiopia's nuclear deterrant through the use of Avenger ICBM's launched from shore establishments and missile boats as well as Nicholas II SLBM's from its Juba class SSBN's. The Imperial Navy uses the following ship classes;
- Emperor Class Supercarrier
This is the largest ship used by the Imperial Navy, it weighs just under 90,000 tons at full load and there are five in service at the moment with one more under construction. They carry a complement of 80 fixed wing aircraft as well as around 20 helicopters, the fixed wing aircraft are usually MRN-15 Loreto fighters, IN-8 Tsunami interceptors and PN-4 Francis patrol craft.
- Tribal Class Light Carriers
The 10 Tribal Class Light Carriers are the mainstay of the Imperial Navy, they weigh just under 30,000 tons at full load and carry a complement of 25 VTOL MRN-17 Archangel fighters which can take off and land on almost any flat surface but the ramps on the Tribal's allow them to take off with a larger payload.
- Tigray Class Battle cruisers
The 4 Tigray Class Battle cruisers are technically huge missile boats but their large size has led them to be described as Battle cruisers. They have nine 14' guns in three turrets which can be loaded with shells or missiles, It also has five Vertical Launched Missile Tubes that launch Imperator Tactical Missiles and Avenger ICBM's. They also have 20 5' DP guns in 10 turrets as well as CIWS systems.
- Maori Class Cruisers
The eight Maori Class Cruisers are (along with the Tribal Class Carriers) the mainstay of the Imperial Navy's taskforces and are also a prominent symbol of Ethiopian power. Unlike the Tigray Battle cruisers however they are true warships as they are equipped with Guns as their primary armament with SAM's as a secondary armament.
- Dirwe Class Destroyers
- Serval Class Frigate
- Ababa Class SSN
- Juba Class SSBN