Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, led a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) team to a strategic facility visit to the International Test Pilots School and the International Tactical Training Centre in London, Ontario, Canada, in a decisive move to advance the Service’s operational capability development agenda.
A NAF statement said that “the visit underscored the NAF’s commitment to deepening international defence cooperation and adopting global best practices to enhance mission effectiveness.”
Key areas of engagement included fighter lead-in training, helicopter tactical training, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operator development, technical training support, as well as flight test training and collaborative research initiatives.
The statement said that “during the engagements, Air Marshal Aneke emphasised the importance of building enduring partnerships that would accelerate the professional growth of NAF personnel and improve the Service’s technological edge.
He noted that “the Nigerian Air Force remains resolute in its pursuit of operational excellence through strategic collaboration with globally recognised training institutions.
This visit reflects our deliberate effort to strengthen capacity development, enhance airpower effectiveness, and ensure the sustained modernisation of our platforms and human capital.”
The discussions also explored collaborative opportunities in the overhaul and upgrade of NAF aircraft, alongside the development of advanced flight simulator systems tailored to the Service’s evolving operational requirements.
In response, the host institutions commended the Nigerian Air Force for its proactive approach to capability enhancement and expressed readiness to support the Service’s transformation drive.
Representatives highlighted the value of structured cooperation in specialised aviation training and technological integration, noting that such partnerships would foster mutual growth and knowledge exchange.
The statement added that “the visit further reinforced the NAF’s strategic vision under Air Marshal Aneke’s leadership to build a technologically driven, highly professional, and globally connected air force capable of meeting contemporary security challenges.”
