African Nation in Talks With Pakistan to Buy 24 JF-17 Fighter Jets

Somalia is in talks with Pakistan to acquire up to 24 JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets in what would mark the country’s most significant effort since 1991 to rebuild its air combat capability, foreign media reported.

The discussions gained momentum after Somali Air Force Commander Mohamud Sheikh Ali visited Islamabad in February 2026. Somalia has lacked a functional fixed wing combat fleet since the collapse of its central government in the early 1990s.

A defence ministry official in Mogadishu said the government wants to ensure that Somali forces protect national airspace. The proposed acquisition would restore an independent air defence capability and reduce reliance on external partners.

Pakistan’s Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj stated that the JF-17 offers a cost effective option compared with Western aircraft, with an estimated price of $30 million to $40 million per unit. He noted that alternative platforms can cost more than three times as much.

An Islamabad based analyst said the JF-17 package includes aircraft, training, spare parts, and weapons integration, making it attractive for countries seeking fewer political conditions in defence procurement.

If finalized, the deal could be worth around $900 million and would represent Somalia’s largest defence purchase in decades. The acquisition would enable Somalia to strengthen control over its airspace and coastline in the Horn of Africa.