Somalia has reportedly reached an agreement with Pakistan to acquire JF-17 Thunder lightweight supersonic combat aircraft, though neither government has officially confirmed a final contract.
Turkish outlet TRHaber revealed the progress but did not disclose the number of airframes, costs, or delivery timelines.
Previous updates indicated that the East African nation could seek up to 24 Block III variants of the jet in a deal potentially worth approximately $900 million, as the country seeks to rebuild its armed forces amid counter-insurgency missions and regional tensions.
The proposed agreement follows defense talks in Mogadishu last September under a delegation led by Pakistani Air Marshal Muhammad Sarfraz with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi.
Discussions focused on institutional development, training, and air defense cooperation, according to local Somali media.
During the tour, Sarfraz presented Somali Air Force Commander Brig. Gen. Abdirisaaq Mahmoud Haji with a model of the JF-17.
In August, Fiqi made a separate visit to Islamabad, where he signed defense and security arrangements between Pakistan and Somalia.
Source: defense post.
