Nigerian Airforce Acquires Sophisticated Aircraft To Protect Nigeria

The Nigerian Air Force has recorded some
giant strides in the last one year leading to
the current successful onslaught against
Boko Haram terrorists in every part of the
North East where they have hitherto held
sway. Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesola
Amosu said some of these was in the area
of continuation of fleet, logistics and
infrastructural renewal, which include
acquisition of new aircraft like the King Air
350, Mi- Series Helicopter Gunship, UAVs
and DA-42 Diamond Aircraft.
Speaking on the celebration of 51st
anniversary of the force in Abuja, which
also marks his second anniversary as the
19th Chief of the Air Staff, Amosu said “I am
happy to inform you that so much have
been achieved for the NAF within the period
under review.”
In addition, he said the NAF have
successfully installed and programmed
newly acquired Harris 7850 multiband
radios in the North East to aid operations
against insurgency.
An elated Amosu also reiterated
achievements relating to reactivation and
restoration of existing platforms. Some of
the existing platforms reactivated within the
period under review include the C-130
aircraft, Super Puma Helicopter Gunship
and DO-228. The NAF, which has been
playing a pivotal role in the battle against
terrorism also successfully conducted
periodic deport maintenance and A-Check
of Alpha Jet aircraft, C-130H aircraft, Mi-35P
Heli and G-222 aircraft while also providing
adequate spares for scheduled and
unscheduled maintenance of aircraft.
He recalled that NAF was formally
established on 18 April 1964 with the
passage of the Air Force Act 1964 by the
Nigerian Parliament with the objectives of
defending the Federal Republic by air and
giving effective training to its personnel in
the air as well as on the ground. Over the
years he noted, the NAF has progressively
grown to its present enviable position and
has proudly justified its existence by
performing its constitutional roles.
Amosu mentioned some of notable
accomplishments of NAF as successful
participation in the Civil War less than 3
years after its establishment; supporting
Government Policy on apartheid as a
frontline state by providing strategic airlift of
arms and logistics supplies to Mozambique,
Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe; and
participating in Peace Support Operations in
countries such as Lebanon, Chad,
Yugoslavia, Sudan and Mali. Others are
combat deployment of NAF ac to support
Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire and
recently Mali; training of Pilots and Engineers
for West African Countries like Ghana, Benin
Republic, Togo, Sierra Leone and Niger;
internal security operations conducted
nationwide and on many occasions
(Maitasine and other ethnic and religion
disturbances); and Counter-Terrorism (CT)/
Counter-Insurgency (COIN) operations in
the North East.
Amosu said under his command, the force
has continued to provide air support
through armed reconnaissance, ground
attacks, combat air patrol, close air support,
intelligence, surveillance as evidenced in the
ongoing war against insurgency in addition
to establishing four Forward Operational
Bases (FOBs) at strategic parts of the
country for quick intervention and
deployment. Within the period that he has
been at the helm, Amosun said 123 foreign
courses involving 426 persons of different
specialties have been conducted while 14
new NAF units have also been established
across the country including a Mother and
Child Hospital in Badagry. By PRNigeria