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PAKISTAN Iron Brother Nigeria Gets Delivery Of First Of Three JF-17 Thunder Block 2 Aircraft:
PAKISTAN Iron brother Nigeria gets delivery of first of three JF-17 Thunder Block 2 Aircraft. According to the details, an Ilyushin-76 Multipurpose Aircraft of PAKISTAN AIR FORCE arrived at the Nigerian Air Force’s 21st Makurdi Air Base and delivered the first of three JF-17 Thunder Block 2 Aircraft to Nigeria.
It is pertinent to mention that this is 1st Aircraft delivered to Nigeria in the first Quarter of 2021 from the total 3 numbers of JF-17 Thunder Block 2 Aircraft.
The image of the said aircraft being shared with enthusiasm on the Nigerian social media pages.
Nigeria seal the defense deal of $184.3 million for the procurement of 3 numbers of JF-17 Thunder Block 2 Aircraft with PAKISTAN AIR FORCE back in 2016. PAKISTAN Government Economic Coordination Committee or ECC formally approved the deal after Nigeria agreed to extend the financial guarantee for the purchase.
While it is not officially disclosed yet, but a unit of JF-17 Thunder Block2 cost Nigeria about $60 million, including lethal Air to Ground and Air to Air Missiles. The unit cost of the said aircraft without the munition is said to be around $40 million a unit.
It is pertinent to mention that several Nigerian Pilots and technical expertise undergo extensive training in PAKISTAN before the delivery of the first aircraft.
Nigerian Air Force is currently witnessing a massive upgradation plan and according to this plan, Nigeria would induct a total of 22 new fighter jet in its arsenal, including the 3 JF-17 Thunder Block-II Aircraft. Furthermore, Nigeria would also induct the 12 numbers of Super Tucano Attack Aircraft and additional numbers of the Mi-171E Type Gunship Helicopter.
Earlier in July 2020, the Commander of Nigerian Air Force Sadique Abubakar announced that the Nigerian Air Force would take the delivery of 3 new JF-17 Thunder Block 2 Aircraft from its Iron Brother PAKISTAN.
It is pertinent to mention that PAKISTAN AIR FORCE has already started the massive production of JF-17 Thunder Block-III Aircraft, which has grabbed the attention of Nigeria and other Friendly and Allied Countries of PAKISTAN.
