The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reportedly has 12 Sukhoi Su-30 multi-role fighters on order from Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC).
Speaking to Sputnik News , the Deputy Director for the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Anatoliy Punchuk said, “In 2018, Russia will supply 10 Su-30 aircraft. Thus, the contract will be completed by the end of next year.”
As per Sputnik News, two of the Su-30s were delivered to Nigeria in 2017. The variant was not disclosed.
Notes & Comments:
Nigeria’s federal budget for 2016 – i.e. the Appropriation Act for 2016 – allocated $15.88 million U.S. for the
purchase of three JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighters from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). It is unclear if Nigeria inked this contract with PAC. The
proposed 2017 budget earmarked $68.76 million for “platform acquisitions … for counter air, counter surface, air ops for strategic effect and air support operations.”
In light of the recent news about the Su-30, the NAF acquisition budget appears to involve several combat platform purchases – i.e. JF-17, Su-30,
Mi-35M and potentially A-29 Super Tucano .
With the Su-30 and JF-17, the NAF would maintain a ‘high-and-low’ composition, respectively. The Su-30 would likely be counted upon to provide the ‘strategic effect’ aspect of the NAF’s requirements, such as long-range strikes and maritime operations. The JF-17 would fulfill air defence and attack operations in-land over Nigeria’s territories and border areas.

Good one for the NAF