As of 2026, the Somali Air Force has officially returned to international active use listings for the first time since 2008. The force is currently centered on a modest rotary-wing capability designed to provide tactical support and mobility for ground operations against insurgent groups.
SOMALI AIR FORCE • Ciidamada Cirka Soomaaliyeed
Personnel: ε13,900 (Total Somali National Army). Status: Re-establishing / Operational. Strategy: Internal stabilization, counter-insurgency (COIN) support, and enhancing the mobility of high-readiness ground units.
Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
• HELICOPTER 6 combat capable platforms.
Multi-role & Tactical Support:
- 2 Bell 412.
- 4 Bell 205.
- (Note: These assets mark the return of Somalia to the global military fleet listings, providing essential support for domestic security missions).
• AIR DEFENCE SYSTEMS (GROUND-BASED)
Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Guns):
- 23mm ZU-23-2.
- (Note: These systems are utilized by the Somali National Army for point defense and direct fire support).
• Regional & Paramilitary Aviation (Puntland & Somaliland)
Data represents the de facto situation; serviceability of this equipment is often reported as poor or inoperable.
Puntland Maritime Police Force / Army:
- AIRCRAFT (Transport): 3 Ayres S2R; 1 DC-3.
- HELICOPTER (Multi-role): SA316 Alouette III.
Somaliland Defense Forces:
- AIR DEFENCE: 23mm ZU-23-2; various MRL systems including BM-21 Grad.
Strategic Note: By 2026, Somalia is making significant strides in re-establishing its sovereign aerial capabilities through the induction of a small fleet of combat helicopters. This reconstruction process is heavily supported by international partners; Turkiye has established a major military training facility in Somalia, and the United States continues to mentor specialized units like the Danab Brigade to build internal capacity. While the Somali National Army (SNA) remains limited in organizational capability, the re-emergence of an active air arm is a key component of the federal government's revised transition plan to assume full security responsibility. Currently, Somalia has no domestic defense-industrial capability and remains reliant on external training and equipment support to maintain these high-readiness assets.
National Security Force (NSF): Somali Army
SOMALI AERONAUTICAL CORPS • Somalia Police Air Wing
Somali Aeronautical Corps • Cuerpo Aeronautica della Somalia (CAS) (Ciidamada Cirka Soomaaliyeed)
Italian: Corpo di Sicurezza della Somalia, (Somali Air Force) (defunct)
Ciidamada Cirka Soomaaliyeed (Somali)
'Corpo di Sicurezza della (Italian)
Somalia, Somali Aeronautical Corps' (Somali Air Force) (defunct);
Somalia Police Air Wing
Capabilities
No national armed forces since 1991. Transitional government attempting to establish armed forces but hampered by defections, financial difficulties, UN arms embargo and institutional deficiencies. Militia forces and armed groups within the country. Somaliland and Puntland have their own militias. Hy equipment in poor repair or inoperable.
Military Forces
Transitional Federal Government
Army .2,000 personnel (Ethiopian trained)
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TERITORY WHERE THE RECOGNISED AUTHORITY (TFG ) DOE S NOT EXERCISE EFECTIVE CONTROL
Data presented here represent the de facto situation. This does not imply international recognition as a sovereign state.
Somaliland
Population 3.5m
Militia unit strengths are not known.
Equipment numbers are generalised assessments; most of this equipment is in poor repair or inoperable.
Organisations by Service
Army Air Defence Systems
AD • 1 AD bde
GUNS numerous TOWED
20mm;
23mm ZU-23;
• FACILITIES
Somalia AF Airfields and Airbases Organisation: none known
Note: Somalia has 7 airports with paved runways (over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1) and 52 airports with unpaved runways (,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 6)
4/5 Generation Fighters 
