Nigeria’s JF-17 Thunders dominates the airspace

The Nigeria Airforce is not resting on its oars to secure the country against external forces and internal insurrection. Nigerian troops can now call rely on the airpower provided by newly acquired JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jets.

Nigeria’s JF-17 Thunders recently concluded an Air Defence Exercise to improve cooperation and air communications between allied units. The exercise helps promote the Air Force’s air-land integration to demonstrate its capabilities and readiness to protect the country.

The air defence drills involve fighters simulated attacks against allied infrastructure, with the JF-17s training against these attacks. Also, the Thunders responded to the threat in a joint manner with the F-7Ni air guard fighter. Subsequently, the JF-17s and F-7Ni fighters conduct air-to-air combat drills.

It will be recalled that three fighter jets were handed over to Nigeria on 20th May 2021, on the 57th anniversary of (Nigerian Air Force) NAF, following a $184 million sale contract between Pakistan and Nigeria. A JF-17 jet bearing tail number NAF722 was displayed on the airfield of Makurdi during the ceremony. The acquisition of the JF-17 aircraft was indicative of how the air force has continued to advance its capability and capacity over the past 57 years while developing competencies to achieve its constitutional mandate of defending the nation’s territorial integrity by air.

JF-17 Thunder is a single-engine, lightweight, multipurpose combat aircraft developed jointly by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) of China and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) of Pakistan.

NAF Chief of Air Staff (CAS) marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao said: “These aircraft have significantly boosted our operational effectiveness in the fight to defeat all threats to the nation and its citizenry.

“Through synergy with surface forces, the freedom of action of the insurgents/terrorists in the north-east has been effectively curtailed." The CAS further disclosed that the NAF is expecting 20 additional platforms, comprising 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the US and eight UAVs.

The JF-17 aircraft, with its unique fighting capabilities, would prove to be a potent platform in addressing the security requirements of Nigeria,” the Inter-Services Public Relations agency (ISPR) said in a statement, quoting Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Nadeem Raza after he meets with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

The CJCSC who is on an official visit to Nigeria, held separate meetings with a group of other officials to discuss, “matters of bilateral and military cooperation (between Nigeria and Pakistan) including security, counter-terrorism, and prevailing regional environment.” The CJCSC also reiterated that Pakistan is keen to expand its existing bilateral military to military cooperation with Nigeria.