WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Nigeria plans to acquire three JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter aircraft in 2016, becoming the first export operator for the planes.

The procurement plans, which set aside $25 million for the fighters, were reported by Nigerian newspaper Punch. The Nigerian government also plans to acquire ten PAC Super Mushshak basic trainers and two Mi-35M helicopters.

Punch obtained the information on the government's procurement plans from a leaked copy of their 2016 budget, which was presented to the National Assembly by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2015.

Nigerian defense officials have been reportedly interested in the JF-17 following the IDEAS 2014 exhibition in Pakistan. DefenceWeb reports that during the exhibition a Pakistani defense official stated Nigeria was close to signing a contract for the jets to modernize its air force.

The JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jet is a lightweight, single-engine aircraft developed in a joint-venture between the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China's state-owned Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.

The jet is armed with a 23mm GSh-23-2 twin-barrel autocannon, and can be equipped with both air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. The jet is in service only in Pakistan.

Source: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2016/01/07/Nigeria-plans-to-procure-three-JF-17-multirole-fighters/4201452195168/

bokoharam is finished QED

End of boko boys, and if den army no sabotage again, happy for them.

I will b more than happy mehn...

Wish am already a trillionaire in dollars. I would love to see Nigeria acquire many advanced sophisticated weapon.

bad news to boko haram and their silly sympathizers.......

Another jet from Chengdu? The last planes we bought from Chengdu were a giant flop ..the couldn't hit any thing on the ground or in the air ...let's hope these one would be more advanced as the name suggest

Good development. By the way where is the so claimed equipment the GEJ administration procured during his regime.