The Nigerian Air Force has increased the number of aircraft in its fleet with the latest procurement of four Super Mushak trainer aircraft from Pakistan for the training of student pilots.
At the induction and handing over ceremony of the Aircraft, Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the procurement of the modern platforms would boost the service capabilities in the fight against insurgency and other related crimes.
He noted that the latest acquisition of the Super Mushak aircraft would impact positively on pilot training efforts of the Nigerian Air Force and also in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to equipping the service for enhanced professionalism.
The Super Mushak is a military trainer and light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
It was designed to provide primary flight training to the pilots of the PAF Academy and also could be used for both military and civilian missions.
Boost Ongoing War On Terror
The symbolic commissioning of the aircraft at the 301 Flying Training School in Kaduna marks the official takeover of the new platforms by the Nigerian Air Force.
The Pakistan Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, who handed over the aircraft to his Nigerian counterpart, described the induction of the aircraft as a valuable addition to the capacity building of the Nigerian Air Force and in the fight against terrorism.
During the event, a total of 14 new pilots, who have completed their training, were decorated as flying officers.
One after another, the pilots filed out for decoration by some dignitaries who graced the occasion.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Danjuma Sheni, who represented the Minister, expressed confidence that the acquisition of the aircraft and the graduation of new pilots into the Nigerian Air Force would boost the ongoing war against terrorism in the northeast and other related crimes in Nigeria.
He, however, urged the Air Force and other sister agencies not to rest on their oars in addressing the rising cases of kidnapping and militancy.
Addressing reporters at the end of the event, Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff and Pakistan Chief of Air Staff further gave the assurance that regular flow of spare parts, technical and operational support required to keep the aircraft flying were available.
The 301 Flying Training School Kaduna is Nigeria’s foremost institution for training pilots in the Nigerian Air Force.
Since its establishment in 1964, it has churned out hundreds of pilots including the current Chief of the Air Staff.
With the acquisition of the latest aircraft and the graduation of a new set of pilots into the Nigerian Air Force, it is expected that the nation looks up to them as critical stakeholders in response to the national security imperatives.
