Nigeria receives final batch of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft

a
 
World Aviation Defense & Security News - Nigeria
 
 
Nigeria receives final batch of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft
 
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on January 14, 2018, took delivery of the second batch of five Super Mushshak trainer aircraft ordered by the Federal Government from Pakistan. An Il-76 airlifter carrying the new Super Mushshak aircraft touched down at NAF Base Kaduna at 7.45 am, the NAF stated.
     
Nigeria receives final batch of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft 640 001NAF's new Super Mushshak trainer aircraft at Kaduna AB
(Credit: NAF)
     
The newly received aircraft form the final batch of a total of 10 Super Mushshak aircraft, a procurement launched in 2016.

In 2015, local primary flying training in the NAF was almost grounded thereby necessitating the procurement of the Super Mushshak Aircraft. Consequently, delivery of the new Super Mushshak aircraft, primary flying training will highly bolster NAF pilots capabiitiies at 401 Flying Training School (FTS), Kaduna.

"Delivery of the aircraft would go a long way in helping to sustain the process of building capacity to effectively prosecute the counterinsurgency operations in the North East as well as other forms of criminalities in the country," the NAF added.

The NAF took delivery of the first batch of five Super Mushshak Aircraft on 14 July 2017, following which the aircraft were inducted and deployed for primary training of NAF pilots.

The Super Mushshak primary trainer aircraft is a more advanced, upgraded variant of the MFI-17 Mushshak. It was designed and is being manufactured by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

The aircraft is powered by a Textron Lycoming IO-540 V4A5 (260hp), allowing a maximum speed of 268 km/h and a cruise speed of 240 km/h. It has a range of 814 km and a endurance of about 4 hours.