The MiG-21, MiG-17 and the Hunters were actually the backbone of the Somali airforce. The MiG-17 & 21 were supplied to Somalia by the Soviets at the height of their alliance, the Hunters were mostly second hand transfers from Jordan & UAE. Somalia in the late 80s got a few Su-25s on their hands through the Egypt and China. Somalia was in the middle of an all out war in 1977-1978 with Ethiopia, Soviets, Cuba, South Yemen, and East Germany and then a war of attrition in with the Ethiopians in the 80s so many of the Somali planes when they were delievered had their original markings on them from the previous country and were hastly painted over and thrown in the war.