The Federal Government is proposing to spend N65.03bn for the acquisition of various military aircraft, combat equipment, trucks and maintenance of boats among others in the 2016 fiscal period.
The Nigerian Air Force has a total budget of N85.61bn, made up of N62.15bn for recurrent expenditure and N23.46bn for capital expenditure.
Giving details of the weapons to be acquired for the operation of the Navy, the fiscal document states that the sum of N5bn is budgeted for the procurement of three JF-17 Thunder-multi role combat aircraft.
Nigeria and Pakistan enjoy good defence relations, with Pakistan training Nigerian officers. Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Malam Dauda Danladi, recently said that 120 officers attended various courses in Pakistan, with 40 currently undergoing training this year.
The JF-17 is jointly produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAC) of China and the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). The Pakistan Air Force has 50 in service and has been flying the type since 2007, although only officially inducting the aircraft in 2010. Pakistan may acquire up to 200.