Rojoef Manuel
Friday June 6, 2025
T129 ATAK Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter. Photo: Turkish Presidency of Defense Industry
Somalia has accepted helicopters from Turkey as part of bilateral defense cooperation between the countries.
The package comprises three T129 Atak combat systems for the Somali Air Force and two unnamed utility helicopters for the Somali Navy.
The aircraft shipment was conducted using six Turkish A400Ms and a Qatari C-17A transport, coinciding with the finalization of Turkey-led helicopter training for Somali pilots.
“The delivery of the Atak helicopters to Somalia is an indication that Ankara is not only aiming to transfer weapons but also to build up an integrated war capacity for Somalia,” a source told Türkiye Today.
Turkish-Somali Defense PactThe delivery supports a 10-year bilateral defense agreement between the NATO member and the East African country to enhance the latter’s military readiness.
Signed last February, the partnership allows Ankara to aid Mogadishu in securing Somali coastlines and reinforcing its naval infrastructure amidst attacks in key regions claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist militia Al-Shabaab and an ongoing dispute with Ethiopia.
This pact was followed by the deployment of approximately 500 Turkish troops to Somalia. About 300 of these soldiers will safeguard strategic facilities and assist in training Somali warfighters, while the remainder will support operations for Somali drones, including the Turkey-built Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial systems.
During the signing earlier this year, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud assured that the agreement with Turkey “is solely about cooperation on maritime defense and economy” and is “not in any way aimed at creating hatred or feud with another country or government.”
“We have been at war with terrorists to liberate our country and today we will start engaging in another war to defend our maritime territory from the terrorists or those who have violated our lawful rights and the international rule of law,” Mohamud said.