Somalia in advanced talks with Pakistan to acquire 24 JF-17 fighter jets in $900m deal

Discussions gain momentum after a Somali Air Force delegation, led by Commander Mohamud Sheikh Ali, visit Islamabad in early February

MOGADISHU/ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Feb 23^rd, 2026) Somalia is reportedly in advanced negotiations with Pakistan to purchase up to 24 JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets as part of a defence package valued at around $900 million, in what would be the largest defence acquisition by Mogadishu since the collapse of the central government in 1991.

The discussions gained momentum after a Somali Air Force delegation, led by Commander Mohamud Sheikh Ali, visited Islamabad in early February. Somali officials stressed that the acquisition is aimed at restoring sovereign control over the country’s airspace and reducing reliance on foreign partners for aerial defence. “Our airspace must be protected by Somali hands,” said a Somali defence ministry official, highlighting the deal as a step toward political autonomy and institutional resurgence after decades of instability.

For Pakistan, the talks underscore the growing global appeal of the JF-17 and Islamabad’s emergence as a competitive defence exporter in emerging security markets. Co-developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the JF-17 offers an affordable multirole combat option compared to more expensive Western platforms. Pakistan’s Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj has noted that while some Western jets may be technologically superior, they cost over three times the $30–40 million price of a JF-17.

The jet has already attracted buyers in countries including Myanmar, Nigeria, and Azerbaijan, and has drawn interest from Bangladesh, Iraq, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. Experts, including Andreas Krieg of King’s College London, say the aircraft positions Pakistan as a flexible mid-tier defence provider.

Strategically, the Somalia deal could enhance Mogadishu’s ability to control its coastline and contested airspace, particularly against threats from al-Shabaab, after its air force disintegrated during the 1990s civil war.

Analysts, however, caution that operationalisation will require pilot training, logistics, maintenance networks, radar infrastructure, and airfield development. Reports indicate the agreement could include training, weapons integration, and long-term support arrangements.

The negotiations also come after the 2023 lifting of a UN arms embargo on Somalia, opening the door for legitimate military modernisation. The Horn of Africa has become a hub of competing regional influences, adding political significance to the potential deal.

At an estimated $900 million, the transaction would eclipse many previous contracts, signaling Pakistan’s ability to compete on price, performance, and neutrality, while creating long-term defence ties with Somalia through training, spares, and integrated support systems.