Three countries to buy Super Mushshaq training aircraft from Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Nigeria has concluded a deal with Pakistan for the acquisition of Super Mushshaq training aircraft.

Nigeria signed the deal with Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) soon after President Mamnoon Hussain announced earlier this year that the country had shown interest in buying Pakistani defence products.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) chief confirmed the news saying that NAF has "concluded a deal for the acquisition of Super Mushshaq", a light basic trainer jet from Pakistan, to "boost training at the force's main flight training school" in the northern city of Kaduna.

According to sources, Nigerian Air Force has ordered up to 10 Super Mushshaq basic trainers at the estimated cost of $10.2 million.

Letter of Credit for the said deal will be finalised by September this year. According to military sources, delivery of these training aircraft will begin by November  and will be completed in 2017. The sale agreement includes the deployment of Pakistani pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians to the country to train locals in the operation and maintenance of the aircraft. The NAF had already completed an airport expansion to accommodate the new aircraft.

The aircraft is already in service in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and South Africa. Qatar and Turkish Air Forces have also signed the deals with PAC to buy the aircraft this year. It is not known how many aircraft Turkey and Qatar would be buying.

The Super Mushshaq is a single engined, dual seater advanced variant of the Mushshaq basic trainer, produced at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex since 1995. Basic flight training is provided on the aircraft to aspiring pilots. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 22,000 feet, and a maximum speed of 268km/h. Range of the aircraft is reported at 814 kilometres. Pakistan acquired its manufacturing rights in 1985 and so far more than 60 jets have been sold.

Chief of Nigerian air Force has also hinted upon sealing a deal with Pakistan to buy fighter jet JF 17. NAF is looking for the finalization of the deal to buy at least three JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft this year. Nigeria is enhancing its military capabilities to boost ongoing counterinsurgency operations against Islamist militant group Boko Haram in the northeast of the country.