JF-17 on sale for Nigeria
date: 1/19/2017
With the release of the Appropriation Act 2016, the Federal defense appropriations financial document presented in the first week of January, the Nigerian Government has made public the expenses for the acquisition of weapon systems ordered last year and over in 2017. Among these, there is no doubt that for the purchase of 3 fighter JF-17 THUNDER Block I, not so much because this is the first export for sino-Pakistani aircraft – after the Sri Lankan order cancellations and waiting to see what will become of that Burmese-and the ridiculous amount spent by the Nigerian Government for such acquisition: 5 billion naira , equal to just under 16 million. It is true that the last Apropriation Act provides for an appropriation of $68.37 million (21.6 billion naira) under the generic entry "aircraft acquisition," sum that would quietly not only buying but also maintenance, logistical and training support required, but it is likely that a portion of this figure is destined for other acquisitions. Specifically, Nigeria is planning to acquire 12 attack helicopters Mi-35 m HIND 3 EMB-314 SUPER TUCANO and at least-the latter bought from Brazil because of the veto of the outgoing administration Obama against the sale to Nigeria of new military aircraft, veto that led to the cancellation of the ALPHA JET replacement program with the A-29 SUPER TUCANO products from Sierra Nevada in its plant in Jacksonville Florida (configuration of aircraft adopted by the Afghan air force). Returning to JF-17-which according to Nigerian programs should be a couple of squadrons (at least 25 aircraft) at the airbase of Yola — just the purchase of the first 2 HIND, for which there is an appropriation of EUR 34 million (17 for exemplary), has given rise to doubts concerning the price of 3 sino-pakistani fighter. One possible interpretation could be linked to the purely financial aspects. The signing of the MoU with the CAP (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex) for the acquisition of the JF-17-10 and SUPER MUSHSHAK MFI-395 primary trainers, 4 of which were already delivered-which took place last September, envisaged a total outlay of 7.06 billion Nigerian naira, equivalent to 26 million dollars, according to the exchange rate at that time. Is it possible, then, that after the umpteenth Nigerian currency devaluation (which since last June 23 has lost 35 percent of its value against the dollar), the equivalent in dollars of the total cost of the operation will be greatly reduced. Another possible explanation-that this is new equipment and not former Pakistani air force-could be related to a simple amortization schedule of payment. Nigeria, namely, may have paid these 15.78 million for the purchase and delivery of only aircraft, while the costs of the support package would be covered by subsequent annual payments. This hypothesis can be supported by close collaboration in the defence sector which in recent years has created between Nigeria and Pakistan. It would be enough to remember the role that Pakistan has had and continues to have in maintaining in service of the F-7 Nigerians (Chinese version of the MiG-21F-13 FISHBED), or training support for Nigerian crew training, provided in the order of SUPER MUSHSHAK, which will see the redeployment of pakistani pilots flying school at 301° Kaduna.