Somalia in talks to purchase 24 JF-17 Thunder jets from Pakistan
Pakistan
The multi-phase defence package is said to include not only the aircraft but also pilot training and weapons integration.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Somalia is negotiating with Pakistan to purchase up to 24 JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets, with a defence deal worth approximately Rs2.51 trillion (around $900 million) currently under consideration.
According to media reports, high-level talks have accelerated as Mogadishu seeks to acquire modern combat aircraft to rebuild its air combat capabilities for the first time since the collapse of the state in 1991. The proposed agreement reportedly focuses on the advanced Block III variant of the JF-17 Thunder.
The multi-phase defence package is said to include not only the aircraft but also pilot training, weapons integration, and a comprehensive logistics support arrangement.
If finalised, the agreement would mark Somalia’s largest and most significant defence procurement since the end of the Cold War, potentially signaling a notable shift in the security landscape of the Horn of Africa region.
Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia and Turkey could serve as potential financial backers for the deal.
Pakistan has previously exported the JF-17 fighter jets to countries including Myanmar, Nigeria, and Azerbaijan, while Bangladesh and Iraq have also expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft.
