Somalia's national army has reportedly acquired the advanced Turkish-made ALKAR 120mm mortar system, marking a new step in growing defence cooperation between Mogadishu and Ankara.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Somalia's national army has reportedly acquired the Turkish-made ALKAR 120mm mortar system, in a further sign of expanding military cooperation between Mogadishu and Ankara as the Horn of Africa nation works to strengthen its armed forces.
The reported delivery of the advanced mortar system has not yet been officially announced by the Somali or Turkish governments. However, the ALKAR system was recently seen among equipment associated with the Somali National Army, according to reports and images circulating in defence circles.
The acquisition would mark the first known appearance of the ALKAR system in the Somali military's arsenal.
Developed by Turkish defence company ASELSAN, the ALKAR is a modern 120mm mortar system designed to be mounted on military vehicles. The system incorporates digital fire-control technology, allowing crews to calculate and manage firing operations electronically.
According to technical information published by ASELSAN, the system is equipped with automated targeting and fire-control capabilities intended to improve accuracy and speed during combat operations.
The 120mm mortar can strike targets at a maximum range of approximately 8.18 kilometres, according to the manufacturer.
One of the system's key features is its so-called "shoot-and-scoot" capability, which allows a military unit to rapidly fire on a target and leave its position to reduce the risk of retaliatory attacks.
ASELSAN says the system can quickly be deployed and repositioned, with its automated mechanisms designed to reduce the time required for firing operations.
The reported acquisition comes as Somalia and Türkiye continue to deepen their long-standing defence partnership.
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Ankara has emerged as one of Somalia's most important security partners over the past decade, providing military training, equipment and other forms of support to help rebuild the country's armed forces.
Türkiye operates a major military training facility in Mogadishu and has trained thousands of Somali soldiers as part of efforts to strengthen the country's ability to assume greater responsibility for its own security.
The two countries have also expanded their cooperation in recent years amid Somalia's continuing fight against Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group that has waged an insurgency against the internationally recognised government for more than a decade.
The introduction of more advanced weapons systems could provide the Somali National Army with greater mobility and firepower as it conducts operations against the militants, although it was not immediately clear how many ALKAR systems Somalia may have received or where they would be deployed.
Neither Somali nor Turkish authorities immediately commented publicly on the reported acquisition.
ASELSAN, one of Türkiye's largest defence companies, has developed the ALKAR system for use on different military platforms, including wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles.
The reported arrival of the system underlines the growing importance of Türkiye's role in Somalia's security sector at a time when Mogadishu is seeking to modernise its military and gradually take on greater responsibility for national security.
Türkiye's support for Somalia extends beyond military cooperation and includes humanitarian assistance, infrastructure development and economic investment.
For Somalia, the reported addition of the ALKAR system represents another potential step in the modernisation of its armed forces, as the government seeks to build a more capable military while confronting persistent security threats across parts of the country.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
