Somali Army receives Turkish Patton tanks

Türkiye has delivered M48 and M60 Patton main battle tanks to Somalia, with footage published Feb. 14 by Clash Report showing the armored vehicles moving in convoy through Mogadishu after being unloaded from a Turkish naval vessel.

Clash Report reported that the tanks were transported aboard the Turkish Navy landing ship TCG Sancaktar and offloaded at the Port of Mogadishu before being handed over to Somali Army units. Images circulating online show the vehicles departing the port area under the escort of Kipri armored vehicles and moving through the city in organized convoy formation.

According to the footage and accompanying reports, multiple armored vehicles were transferred during the delivery. Somali forces were seen receiving the tanks directly at the port following their arrival by sea, indicating immediate operational transfer rather than a training-only deployment.

The delivered vehicles include M48 Patton tanks previously operated by the Turkish Armed Forces. Türkiye maintains an inventory of roughly 1,500 M48 tanks. A portion of these vehicles was modernized in the early 1990s and designated M48A5T1, while nearly half underwent further upgrades and received the M48A5T2 designation.

The M48 and M60 Patton series are main battle tanks originally developed during the Cold War era and later upgraded by multiple operators. Modernized variants typically feature improved fire-control systems and updated components suited for ground support and armored security missions. Such platforms remain widely used in environments where durability and maintainability are prioritized over advanced armor technology.

The tank delivery follows earlier Turkish military deployments to Somalia. In late January 2026, reports confirmed that Turkish F-16 fighter jets landed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu. The deployment represented Türkiye’s first forward stationing of manned combat aircraft in Somalia, according to regional defense reporting.

Prior to the aircraft deployment, Türkiye transferred three T129 ATAK attack helicopters to Somalia during 2024 and 2025 under an expanded defense cooperation agreement. Somali pilots reportedly completed training programs ahead of the transfer, enabling operational use of the helicopters for close air support and counter-insurgency missions.

Türkiye has maintained a long-term defense partnership with Somalia that includes military training, equipment transfers, and security cooperation. The addition of armored vehicles expands Somali ground force capabilities by introducing tracked armored platforms capable of protected maneuver and fire support operations.