The counter-terrorism operation in the North-East is set to receive a boost, as plans have been concluded for the induction of three J70 fighter aircraft into the inventory of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The disclosure was made Monday by the Pakistani Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, during a visit to the headquarters of the NAF in Abuja.

This was as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said contemporary security challenges across the world, require partnership and synergy between and among services.

Addressing journalists after the open session, the Pakistani CAS disclosed that his visit to the NAF Headquarters was to strengthen collaboration between the two Air Forces in the areas of training, joint exercises, equipment and some manufacturing.

According to him, this was part of the larger defence cooperation, which Pakistan seeks to establish with the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“It is an official bilateral visit that I am conducting. I am looking forward to defence corporation not only in the Air Force, but in the military, including the Army and Navy.

“In the Air force what we are doing with the Nigerian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force together is in the field of training, joint exercises, equipment and some manufacturing. The purpose is to further accentuate, enhance and boost the scope of operation and take it to the next millage.

“We are jointly producing JF 70 with China…It’s a joint venture but we are manufacturing. Now I have more than 100 aircraft that are flying.

“The JF 70 is a battle hardened aircraft…. You as Nigerians should be very satisfied to have these aircraft flying in the coming days, and that is what we look forward to as we cooperate with our Nigerian brothers and sisters so that that aircraft come for the defence of Nigeria, and it will be a very important platform and state of the art aircraft and that is one of the biggest collaborations that we have at this time,” Khan said.

On his part, the CAS underscored the importance of robust collaboration, which he noted, the NAF had pursued since his emergence as the 20th Air Chief in 2015. (New Telegraph)

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