Somalia Bolsters Close-Air Support with First Delivery of Turkish T129 Attack Helicopters
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On June 5, 2025, Turkish Aerospace Industries delivered three T129 ATAK attack helicopters to the Somali Armed Forces, marking a milestone in Ankara–Mogadishu defence cooperation. The aircraft are the first combat helicopters ever fielded by Somalia and arrive via a new defence pact that has made Türkiye the Horn nation’s principal security partner since 2017. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The T129s give Mogadishu its first purpose-built close-air-support asset (Picture source: Turkish Aerospace Industries)
Footage shared on social media shows the gunships rolling off Turkish A400M transports at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde airport, their 20 mm cannons and rocket pods gleaming in the tropical sun. Their deployment comes as al-Shabab intensifies attacks and Red Sea rivalries escalate, making close-air-support assets urgently critical to Somalia’s counter-terror fight.
The T129 ATAK is an advanced multi-role attack helicopter designed for precision strike missions, armed reconnaissance, and close air support. It is based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform but features Turkish-developed avionics, mission software, and weapons systems tailored to Türkiye’s operational requirements. The T129 is powered by two LHTEC CTS800-4A engines and equipped with a 20mm three-barrel rotary cannon, guided missiles such as the Roketsan UMTAS anti-tank missile, and advanced electronic warfare systems. Its agility and versatility make it suitable for asymmetric warfare, which aligns with Somalia’s current counterinsurgency needs.
Operational development of the T129 began in the late 2000s, with Turkish Aerospace partnering with Leonardo to adapt the A129 to Turkish military specifications. Since its induction into Turkish service in 2014, the T129 has proven its effectiveness in various operational theaters, including counterterrorism operations against PKK militants. The Somali delivery follows extensive pilot training conducted over the past year, culminating in the recent certification of Somali crews ready to operate the helicopters independently.
Compared to similar platforms such as the American AH-1Z Viper or the Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter, the T129 excels in low-intensity conflict scenarios due to its lightweight design, advanced avionics, and cost-effective operational profile. Historically, it mirrors the evolution of the A129 Mangusta, which Italy designed specifically for anti-guerrilla and light strike roles. The T129’s compact size offers greater maneuverability in urban and rugged environments like those faced in Somalia, providing an operational edge over bulkier counterparts.
Strategically, the T129s give Mogadishu its first purpose-built close-air-support asset at a moment when al-Shabaab is regaining momentum and local-council, state and federal elections (June 2025, November 2025, and 2026 respectively) draw ever nearer. The twin-engine helicopter was engineered for “hot-and-high” environments, carries a chin-mounted 20 mm cannon, up to eight UMTAS or 16 CİRİT precision missiles, 70 mm rocket pods and Stinger air-to-air missiles, and integrates ASELFLIR-300 T electro-optics for day-night target acquisition. These features, validated in Turkish counter-terrorism operations in Siirt Province, translate directly to Somalia’s fight against al-Shabaab, enabling rapid strikes on remote compounds, armed convoy overwatch and precision suppression of ambushes along key supply routes. In parallel, Ankara’s decision to pair the helicopters with a February 2024 naval-training accord and its long-standing Camp TURKSOM training hub cements Turkey’s role as Somalia’s principal security guarantor and positions it as the external power with the deepest military footprint on both Somali coasts.
Militarily and fiscally, the T129 tranche sits inside a broader, still-undisclosed defence-co-operation framework signed in February 2024. Preceding instalments delivered Bayraktar TB2 MALE drones (2023) and two Bayraktar Akıncı UCAVs (March 2025), giving the Somali National Army an emerging manned-unmanned strike complex. The present contract covers three T129s, associated weapons and pilot/maintainer training; officials in Ankara have signalled that follow-on orders are possible as Mogadishu’s air arm matures. By fielding an indigenous gunship fleet, rather than relying on AMISOM/ATMIS partners or U.S. contractors, Somalia gains the autonomy to plan and prosecute counter-terror air operations on its own timetable while deterring spoilers during the run-up to the country’s first one-person-one-vote elections in more than half a century.
This delivery marks a turning point in Somalia’s defense posture, providing the Somali Armed Forces with a critical capability to confront asymmetric threats more effectively. Türkiye’s sustained military and economic support positions it as a key partner in Somalia’s stability efforts, with broader implications for regional security and influence in the Horn of Africa.
{loadposition bannertop}
{loadposition sidebarpub}
On June 5, 2025, Turkish Aerospace Industries delivered three T129 ATAK attack helicopters to the Somali Armed Forces, marking a milestone in Ankara–Mogadishu defence cooperation. The aircraft are the first combat helicopters ever fielded by Somalia and arrive via a new defence pact that has made Türkiye the Horn nation’s principal security partner since 2017.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The T129s give Mogadishu its first purpose-built close-air-support asset (Picture source: Turkish Aerospace Industries)
Footage shared on social media shows the gunships rolling off Turkish A400M transports at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde airport, their 20 mm cannons and rocket pods gleaming in the tropical sun. Their deployment comes as al-Shabab intensifies attacks and Red Sea rivalries escalate, making close-air-support assets urgently critical to Somalia’s counter-terror fight.
The T129 ATAK is an advanced multi-role attack helicopter designed for precision strike missions, armed reconnaissance, and close air support. It is based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform but features Turkish-developed avionics, mission software, and weapons systems tailored to Türkiye’s operational requirements. The T129 is powered by two LHTEC CTS800-4A engines and equipped with a 20mm three-barrel rotary cannon, guided missiles such as the Roketsan UMTAS anti-tank missile, and advanced electronic warfare systems. Its agility and versatility make it suitable for asymmetric warfare, which aligns with Somalia’s current counterinsurgency needs.
Operational development of the T129 began in the late 2000s, with Turkish Aerospace partnering with Leonardo to adapt the A129 to Turkish military specifications. Since its induction into Turkish service in 2014, the T129 has proven its effectiveness in various operational theaters, including counterterrorism operations against PKK militants. The Somali delivery follows extensive pilot training conducted over the past year, culminating in the recent certification of Somali crews ready to operate the helicopters independently.
Compared to similar platforms such as the American AH-1Z Viper or the Russian Mi-28N Night Hunter, the T129 excels in low-intensity conflict scenarios due to its lightweight design, advanced avionics, and cost-effective operational profile. Historically, it mirrors the evolution of the A129 Mangusta, which Italy designed specifically for anti-guerrilla and light strike roles. The T129’s compact size offers greater maneuverability in urban and rugged environments like those faced in Somalia, providing an operational edge over bulkier counterparts.
Strategically, the T129s give Mogadishu its first purpose-built close-air-support asset at a moment when al-Shabaab is regaining momentum and local-council, state and federal elections (June 2025, November 2025, and 2026 respectively) draw ever nearer. The twin-engine helicopter was engineered for “hot-and-high” environments, carries a chin-mounted 20 mm cannon, up to eight UMTAS or 16 CİRİT precision missiles, 70 mm rocket pods and Stinger air-to-air missiles, and integrates ASELFLIR-300 T electro-optics for day-night target acquisition. These features, validated in Turkish counter-terrorism operations in Siirt Province, translate directly to Somalia’s fight against al-Shabaab, enabling rapid strikes on remote compounds, armed convoy overwatch and precision suppression of ambushes along key supply routes. In parallel, Ankara’s decision to pair the helicopters with a February 2024 naval-training accord and its long-standing Camp TURKSOM training hub cements Turkey’s role as Somalia’s principal security guarantor and positions it as the external power with the deepest military footprint on both Somali coasts.
Militarily and fiscally, the T129 tranche sits inside a broader, still-undisclosed defence-co-operation framework signed in February 2024. Preceding instalments delivered Bayraktar TB2 MALE drones (2023) and two Bayraktar Akıncı UCAVs (March 2025), giving the Somali National Army an emerging manned-unmanned strike complex. The present contract covers three T129s, associated weapons and pilot/maintainer training; officials in Ankara have signalled that follow-on orders are possible as Mogadishu’s air arm matures. By fielding an indigenous gunship fleet, rather than relying on AMISOM/ATMIS partners or U.S. contractors, Somalia gains the autonomy to plan and prosecute counter-terror air operations on its own timetable while deterring spoilers during the run-up to the country’s first one-person-one-vote elections in more than half a century.
This delivery marks a turning point in Somalia’s defense posture, providing the Somali Armed Forces with a critical capability to confront asymmetric threats more effectively. Türkiye’s sustained military and economic support positions it as a key partner in Somalia’s stability efforts, with broader implications for regional security and influence in the Horn of Africa.
