Nigeria has joined China and United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the only countries operating the WingLoong II Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).
In addition to the two inducted into the NAF, six other UCAVs are expected by early 2021.
The 2x@NigAirForce WingLoong II, which can remain airborne for 31 hours in Internal Security Reconnaissance (ISR) mode and 26 hours in offensive role.
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Spokesperson, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement on Tuesday that the will add significant value to the nation’s Counter-Insurgency (COIN) and anti-banditry Oerations.
Air Commodore Daramola said that in the last five years, 22 brand new aircraft have been acquired by the Air Force while 19 more are expected before June 2021.
According to the NAF Spokesperson, “close to 200 Nigerian Air Force pilots, engineers and technicians are undergoing training in nine different countries as part of efforts to bridge decades of gaps in capability and capacity that have made Nigeria vulnerable to asymmetrical threats.
“These additional new air assets and skills acquired by personnel will greatly enhance Nigerian Air Force’s operational effectiveness which will translate into security for Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Earlier on Monday night, Air Commodore Daramola said in a statement that the Service is set to take delivery of additional aircraft, including three JF-17 multi-role fighter aircrafts whilst also reactivating several existing platforms such as the F-7Ni fighter jet.
This move, he said, is “the drive to reposition the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives.”
Daramola quoted Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was on an operational visit to NAF Base Makurdi on Monday while assessing the ongoing reactivation work on the F-7 aircraft and commissioning of some infrastructural projects.
The projects include the newly-remodeled and fully-furnished NAF School of Air Intelligence (NAFSAINT) as well as a block of 10 x single bedroom and block of 6 x 2-bedroom accommodation for the Pakistani pilots and technicians who would support the JF-17 aircraft during the first year of its operations in Nigeria.
The CAS was also briefed on the progress of some ongoing Research and Development (R&D) projects, which include a handheld single-rocket launcher and 6-tube rocket launcher, being jointly executed by the 131 Engineering Group and the 633 Central Armament Depot (633 CAD) Makurdi.
Speaking after assessing the progress of work on the F-7Ni aircraft, the CAS expressed extreme delight that the Federal Government’s support to the NAF was yielding great dividends in ensuring the Service has the required platforms to more effectively secure the Nation. He noted that this was evident in the volume of ongoing reactivation work on several grounded aircraft to bring them back to serviceable status. “Recall that, just last week, we were in Kainji to assess the progress of ongoing in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) on 2 Alpha Jet aircraft. Today, we are in Makurdi for the reactivation of the F-7 aircraft and, by next week, we will be in Kano to see what is going on with the Life Extension Programme (LEP) of another batch of 3 L-39ZA aircraft”, he said.
Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized that these activities clearly showed the level of seriousness with which the Government is working to ensure that the NAF gets some of its grounded aircraft back to flying status. He revealed that, out of the 9 F-7 fighter jets earmarked for reactivation, 7 aircraft, which require high level, in-depth maintenance by the Original Equipment Manufacturer, were being disassembled for freighting to China due to the unavailability of all the necessary maintenance and test equipment within Nigeria. He however highlighted that 2 of the aircraft would undergo Life Extension Programme within the Country, which would be executed by the Chinese technical partners, with support from NAF Engineers and Technicians, using equipment in the recently reactivated Machine Tools Workshop at the 131 Engineering Group.
The idea, he said, was to ensure that the NAF has adequate number of serviceable aircraft whilst also building the capacity of NAF personnel in line with what was done with the Alpha Jets in Kainji as well as with the C-130Hs and the L-39ZAs aircraft in Ikeja and Kano, respectively. “This clearly shows that all hands are on deck. We are working round the clock to ensure that we have what it takes in terms of capabilities as well as capacity to ensure that we provide the required security for our people and our country”, the CAS added. He further disclosed that the UCAVs being expected from China had been packaged for shipment to Nigeria, while the training of the NAF personnel to man them is ongoing in China.
Speaking earlier during the commissioning ceremony, the CAS stated that since 2015, the NAF had prioritized the provision of good living accommodation for personnel as well as befitting hostels and state-of-the-art training facilities for its schools. These efforts, he said, had greatly enhanced the output of NAF operations and given the Service several technological breakthroughs. Air Marshal Abubakar further noted that the current security challenges facing the Nation had necessitated robust, unique and diversified approaches to military operations, particularly in intelligence gathering. “Upgrading our structures for intelligence gathering is one of those approaches. As such, the importance of this event cannot be overemphasized”, he said.
Air Marshal Abubakar further disclosed that the acquisition of 3 variants of UCAVs; 2 x Wing Loong II, 4 x CH-4 and 2 x CH-3; were part of efforts to enhance the NAF’s intelligence gathering for air operations. He added that the equipment alone cannot deliver accurate intelligence. According to him, “the NAF is not oblivious of the fact that it would always need skilled intelligence personnel to translate the information from these machines into actionable intelligence needed to formulate plans, make decisions and take actions. As such, the Service is keenly developing the knowledge and skills of intelligence operators for this purpose”.
While reminding personnel to justify the resources being expended to improve their knowledge, skills and welfare, the CAS urged them to do all within their power to ensure that they deliver desired results for the security and progress of the Country. “As a Service, we must strive to meet the expectations of the country at this time of our heightened involvement in curbing insecurity. We must efficiently protect the citizenry and our critical assets and, as much as, possible support the civil authorities in ensuring the safety and security of our society.
“We must ensure we put in our best to ensure that the Nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are not undermined by individual or group of individuals”, he said. The CAS expressed his profound appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his support in ensuring that the NAF is better skilled and equipped to fulfill its statutory responsibilities. He also thanked members of the National Assembly for their continued support to the Service.”