Nigerian AF JF-17s are inducted into service

摘要

A TRIO of newly delivered Nigerian Air Force (NAF) JF-17 Thunder multi-role combat aircraft - comprising NAF720 (c/n FC10260/2P-60), NAF721(c/n FC10261/ 2P-61) and NAF722 (c/n FP10262/2P-62)-were given an acceptance ceremony on May 20 at Makurdi Air Base, Benue State, This was held at the conclusion of the NAF Day Celebration 2021, which marked the service's 57th anniversary. As previously reported, the first aircraft had arrived on board a Pakistan Air Force II-78 on March 21 (see Nigeria's first JF-17 arrives, June, p19), with the remaining two arriving over the next few weeks. The induction ceremony was performed by the President and Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd). They were accepted from representatives of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, which manufactured the aircraft. The President stated that the induction ceremony was personally rewarding to him as it marked another step in his promise to improve the infrastructure and equipment of the country's security agencies. The NAF Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, noted that under President Buhari the NAF has inducted 23 brand new aircraft into its inventory, comprising ten Super Mushshak trainers and 13 rotary wing combat platforms (five Mi-35M helicopter gunships, four AW109E Power helicopters, two Mi-171Es and two Bell 412 multi-role helicopters). Air Marshal Amao also said that 20 additional aircraft are expected, comprising 12 A-29B Super Tucanos and eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The latter are reported to comprise two Wing Loong Ils, two CH-3s and four CH-4s.