The
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said the Nigerian Air
Force is expecting new fighter aircraft from no fewer than four countries to
boost its capabilities.
He
listed the countries as Russia, the United States of America, Pakistan and the
United Arab Emirates.
Abubakar,
who identified the NAF’s challenges as insufficient aircraft and low aircraft
serviceability, said his men were working towards “more professionalism to meet
the security imperatives.”
The
air force chief stated this on Saturday at a lecture delivered to the Senior
Course 40 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State.
The
lecture was titled, ‘The Nigerian Air Force in Contemporary Warfare; the Chief
of the Air Staff’s Vision for Future Engagements.’
According
to Abubakar, while Nigeria is expecting eight Mi-35M attack helicopters from
Russia, it is also waiting for the Super Tucano aircraft from the United
States.
Moreover,
there are five Super Mushshak aircraft expected from Pakistan, while the Yabhon
Flash 20 Remote Piloted aircraft is also expected from the UAE.
Abubakar
added, “The enormous cost of aircraft acquisition and maintenance infers that
such should be carved out as extra-budgetary expenditure while platform
maintenance and upgrade must also be moved from recurrent to capital
expenditure.
“From
a total of 10 Mi-35M helicopters expected, the service has already acquired
two, while an additional two are in the production line and to be delivered
soon. There is also an indication of the sale of the Super Tucano aircraft by
the United States Government.
“Furthermore,
out of the expected 10 Super Mushshak primary trainer aircraft procured, five
have been inducted into the NAF inventory to enhance flight training.
“In
the same vein, efforts are ongoing for the acquisition of the Super Tucano
Light Attack Aircraft and delivery of the Yabhon Flash 20 Remote Piloted
Aircraft.”
The
air chief stated that the NAF also had to compete with local and international
aviation industry for the limited aviation engineers in the country.
Source: punchng.com
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