Somalia reportedly agrees to acquire Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets

Somalia has reportedly reached an agreement with Pakistan to acquire JF-17 Thunder fighter jets as part of a broader initiative to rebuild and modernize the Somali Air Force. While Turkish media outlet TRHaber reported the deal, neither the Somali nor the Pakistani governments have officially confirmed the final procurement details, such as the specific number of aircraft, total cost, or delivery schedule.

The reported acquisition follows deepening defense ties between Mogadishu and Islamabad. In September, a high-level Pakistan Air Force delegation led by Air Marshal Muhammad Sarfraz visited Mogadishu to meet with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and other senior officials. Discussions focused on institutional development, personnel training, and air-defense capabilities. During this visit, Sarfraz presented a model of the JF-17 Thunder to the Somali Air Force commander.

This follows an August meeting in Pakistan where both nations signed a memorandum of understanding regarding defense and security cooperation. Previous reports suggested Somalia might seek up to 24 JF-17 Block III aircraft in a deal potentially valued at approximately $900 million. The JF-17 is a multirole combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China.