Somalia agrees to buy Pakistani JF-17 fighters

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia has agreed to buy JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan, a Turkish defence outlet reported, but neither government has confirmed that a contract exists and no price, aircraft number or delivery date has been published.

TRHaber posted the claim on X on Oct 7. Officials in Mogadishu and Islamabad have not publicly commented on a final procurement agreement.

The report follows months of unconfirmed accounts. Defence Security Asia reported in February that Somalia was negotiating for up to 24 Block III variants in a deal worth about $900 million, and Pakistani media relayed the claim. Neither government confirmed those figures. In April, Somali outlet Radio Dalsan cited unnamed officials as saying contracts had been signed, but no government statement followed.

Pakistani media at the time quoted Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj as saying Western alternatives cost more than three times as much as a JF-17, which he put at $30 million to $40 million.

No embargo barrier

Somalia is legally free to buy such aircraft. The U.N. Security Council lifted its arms embargo on the federal government in December 2023 through Resolution 2714, while keeping restrictions on Al Shabaab. The resolution urged Mogadishu to strengthen weapons and ammunition management and prevent imported equipment from reaching unauthorised hands.

Somalia has sought foreign help to rebuild an air force weakened by decades of conflict. Analysts quoted by Somali media have said that any fast-jet purchase would also require new airbase, air traffic control and maintenance infrastructure, as well as pilot training.

Diplomatic groundwork

Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi held talks with Pakistan’s naval and air force chiefs in Islamabad on Aug 5. Pakistan’s air force said afterwards it was ready to support Somali Air Force modernisation through training and institutional development.

Air Marshal Muhammad Sarfraz, Pakistan’s air defence commander and deputy chief of the air staff, then travelled to Mogadishu, arriving on Sept 19. On Sept 20 he met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, with Fiqi, the army commander and Air Force commander Brigadier General Abdirisaaq Mahmoud Haji present. A presidency statement said the talks focused on accelerating air force development, personnel training and protecting Somali airspace. Sarfraz gave Haji a model of the JF-17. No purchase was announced.

The aircraft

Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation jointly build the single-engine JF-17. The Block III is the newest version, fitted with a KLJ-7A active electronically scanned array radar. Pakistan’s air force has said the jet can carry China’s long-range PL-15 air-to-air missile. Published range and weight figures vary by source and weapons load.

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