Nigerian Air Force returns loaned fighter jet from Pakistan

The loaned Super Mushshak aircraft. Photo: NAN

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has returned four Super Mushshak aircraft loaned to it by Pakistan Government.

Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

He stated that the aircraft were for ab-initio flying training of pilots at 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna State.

Adesanya added that “the disassembled aircraft were loaded aboard cargo aircraft and flown out of Air Force Base, Kaduna State on Oct. 23.

“The aircraft were temporarily made available by Pakistan Government at no cost to NAF for training of pilots in December 2016, prior to delivery of 10 trainer aircraft ordered by NAF.”

The director explained that NAF used the four Super Mushshak trainer aircraft to train four instructor pilots and graduated 16 ab-initio student pilots, including two female pilots.

He explained further that the training took place at the 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna State, NAN said.

Adesanya said the training had enhanced NAF’s ability to train its pilots locally, thereby helping to build the needed capacity to further prosecute the fight against insurgency in the North-East.

He said “having taken delivery of the first batch of five new trainer aircraft, there was no need any longer to retain the aircraft, hence their return, in line with the agreement between the two countries.”

The director added that NAF was expecting to receive the remaining five new Super Mushshak aircraft it ordered before the end of December.