Nigeria may buy JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan

[Scorpion]

KARACHI: The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is close to finalising an order for the purchase of one or two squadrons of the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft co-produced by Pakistan and China, a senior Defence Ministry official told IHS Jane’s.



Speaking at the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (Ideas) 2014 in Karachi, the official said the NAF finalised its recommendation for the purchase of 25-40 JF-17s after NAF chief Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu visited Pakistan in October. AM Amosu’s engagements in Pakistan included a visit to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra, where the JF-17 is manufactured.



So far, the PAC has produced 50 Block 1 JF-17s and began work on another 50 Block 2 variants in late 2013. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials have told IHS Jane’s that a Block 3 variant is being planned. While the JF-17 has PAF capability plans, it has so far failed to find an export customer.



PAF officials have described the JF-17 Block 3 as a fourth-generation-plus fighter, a term that is used to describe Western aircraft such as Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60s, the Saab Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Dassault Rafale, among others.



Western officials have previously said that a first successful export of the JF-17 holds the key for the programme’s long-term sustainment. Potential export customers mentioned as likely candidates for the JF-17 have included Egypt, Nigeria, Myanmar and Venezuela.



Senior PAF officials have promoted the JF-17 as costing much less than comparable fighters produced by Western manufacturers. However, prospective customers are likely to consider established manufacturers ahead of PAC, which is a relative newcomer to the international market.

Nigeria may buy JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan - thenews.com.pk

 

[TatsuKaji]

Some video and pictures of the JF-17.

 

[Kamarsun1]

KARACHI: The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is close to finalising an order for the purchase of one or two squadrons of the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft co-produced by Pakistan and China, a senior Defence Ministry official told IHS Jane’s.



Speaking at the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (Ideas) 2014 in Karachi, the official said the NAF finalised its recommendation for the purchase of 25-40 JF-17s after NAF chief Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu visited Pakistan in October. AM Amosu’s engagements in Pakistan included a visit to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra, where the JF-17 is manufactured.



So far, the PAC has produced 50 Block 1 JF-17s and began work on another 50 Block 2 variants in late 2013. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials have told IHS Jane’s that a Block 3 variant is being planned. While the JF-17 has PAF capability plans, it has so far failed to find an export customer.



PAF officials have described the JF-17 Block 3 as a fourth-generation-plus fighter, a term that is used to describe Western aircraft such as Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 60s, the Saab Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Dassault Rafale, among others.



Western officials have previously said that a first successful export of the JF-17 holds the key for the programme’s long-term sustainment. Potential export customers mentioned as likely candidates for the JF-17 have included Egypt, Nigeria, Myanmar and Venezuela.



Senior PAF officials have promoted the JF-17 as costing much less than comparable fighters produced by Western manufacturers. However, prospective customers are likely to consider established manufacturers ahead of PAC, which is a relative newcomer to the international market.

Nigeria may buy JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan - thenews.com.pk

Nigeria is growing fast and I'm sure they well load up on fighters, and since the price is much cheaper than american made fighters, I'm sure a deal is on the way.

 

[003]

Is it really necessary that they buy it? First, they would buy military weapons because they feel insecure, but what's causing them to feel so, their pride? Nigeria is a country where a lot of people suffer from poverty and famine. So instead of its government to spend money on such frivolous things, why they just use the money to feed their people who are dying of hunger? Why don't they just use the money to boost their economy. The money might not be enough, but it could be an addition.

 

[Onionman]

I don't know how they can justify buying such aircraft. If they are going to spend more on defense (and they have far more pressing economic spending priorities, in my view) then really it should be focused on logistics and better equipping the army in their fight against Boko Haram. That's the real defense issue.