Somalia signs deal to acquire Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets

ISLAMABAD/MOGADISHU: Somalia has signed an agreement with Pakistan to acquire 24 JF-17 Thunder Block III aircraft costing at around $900 million, diplomatic and defence sources said.

The agreement, which some officials said was finalised, could mark Somalia’s largest military procurement since the Cold War as it seeks to rebuild its air force and strengthen coastal security.

Sources said the deal may include pilot training, weapons integration and long-term maintenance arrangements.

The JF-17 Block III is a 4.5-generation multi-role fighter jet equipped with advanced avionics, an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and beyond-visual-range combat capabilities.

Officials familiar with the matter said delegations from Somalia had been engaged in talks in Islamabad in recent weeks before finalizing the agreement.

The acquisition could reduce Somalia’s reliance on foreign air support and enhance its capacity to combat militant groups such as al-Shabaab.

Analysts say the move may also shift the balance of power in the Horn of Africa, giving Somalia greater control over its national security and airspace.