NAF Receives 2nd Batch Of Super Mushshak Aircraft
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has received the second batch of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft ordered by the Federal Government from Pakistan.
Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya stated that the Ilyushin 76 Strategic Airlifter aircraft that brought the new Super Mushshak aircraft touched down at NAF Base in Kaduna State at 7.45 on Sunday morning.
In a statement in Abuja on Sunday said the new aircraft were received on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar by the Chief of Logistics at NAF Headquarters, AVM Bello Garba.
According to Adesanya, a combined team of NAF and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) personnel was also on hand to assist in offloading the new aircraft, some parts of which came in crates.
He said that; “In addition, officials of the Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Immigration Service were present to ensure necessary documentation, adding; “The newly delivered aircraft, which are capable of being used for acrobatics training, are all brand new and fitted with digital glass cockpit.”
The statement further said that; “The aircraft, five in number, form the final batch of a total of 10 Super Mushshak aircraft, the procurement of which the present administration initiated in 2016.
“As at 2015, local primary flying training in the NAF was almost grounded, thereby necessitating the procurement of the Super Mushshak Aircraft”.
The NAF spokesperson said with the delivery of the new Super Mushshak aircraft, primary flying training of NAF pilots at 401 Flying Training School (FTS) Kaduna State, has received a major boost going forward.
He also added that the aircraft delivery would go a long way in assisting the service to sustain the process of building capacity to effectively prosecute the counter-insurgency operations in the North- East.
Noting that the aircraft acquisition would also assist in countering other forms of criminalities in the country, the AVM Adesanya said that NAF personnel had undergone training in Pakistan as Instructor Pilots and technicians on the Super Mushshak aircraft, as part of the contract.
He expressed happiness that the delivery took place without any hitches and the Ilyushin 76 Aircraft had departed from Nigeria, adding that the newly received aircraft would now be assembled in Nigeria by a team of PAF and NAF technicians prior to test flying and formal induction into NAF.
NAN reports that on July 14, 2017, the Air Force received the first batch of five brand new super Mushshak aircraft and followed up with their induction and deployment for primary training of NAF pilots.
