Somalia has officially received a delivery of military helicopters from Turkey as part of a 10-year bilateral defense agreement aimed at strengthening the East African nation’s defense capabilities.
The shipment includes three T129 Atak combat helicopters for the Somali Air Force and two utility helicopters designated for naval operations.
The delivery, conducted via six Turkish A400Ms and one Qatari C-17A transport aircraft, aligns with the completion of Turkey-led helicopter training for Somali pilots.
“This marks a pivotal moment in Somalia’s defense development,” a source told Türkiye Today. “It’s not just about arms transfer—Turkey is helping Somalia build an integrated, long-term war capacity.”
The military partnership, signed in February 2025, enables Turkey to assist Somalia in securing its coastline, boosting naval defenses, and countering threats from Al-Shabaab militants and rising tensions with neighboring Ethiopia.
Under the deal, Turkey has already deployed around 500 troops to Somalia, with 300 assigned to protect strategic facilities and train Somali forces. The rest are supporting operations for Bayraktar TB2 drones, another Turkish contribution to Somalia’s growing defense portfolio.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has emphasized that the agreement is focused on maritime defense and economic cooperation, not confrontation.
“We are at war to liberate our country from terrorists,” Mohamud said. “Now, we must also defend our maritime territory from those who violate our sovereign rights.”
