Tag: Nigerian Air Force

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said yesterday that its fighter aircraft had decimated key Boko Haram hideouts at Tumbumma Baba and Chiralia in the Southern Tumbuns, Borno State.

NAF’s Director of Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the feat was achieved in a series of precision airstrikes conducted under the auspices of Operation Hadin Kai on June 5 and 6.

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Ejodame said: “Acting on credible intelligence, NAF aircraft targeted terrorist structures reportedly used for storage and coordination by the terrorists.

“The air strikes delivered direct hits, crippling planned attacks aimed at disrupting Eid celebrations.

“Battle Damage Assessments confirmed the neutralisation of several terrorists and the destruction of key logistics structures.

“This pre-emptive action underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to safeguarding civilian lives and supporting national security objectives.”

• Two vigilantes die during shelling

Twenty terrorists have been killed in Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft strikes in Zamfara State. Twenty-one motorcycles were also destroyed in the operation.

NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame announced this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

The statement said the terrorists were killed during air interdictions conducted on May 31 at Mai-Galma in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

It said the operation was conducted to halt a planned large-scale attack by armed bandits on vulnerable communities.

The statement reads: “Intelligence received indicated that a significant number of terrorists were massing and preparing to strike unsuspecting settlements. Further intelligence confirmed that the bandits had killed some farmers and abducted several civilians, including women and children.

“Consequently, NAF aircraft under Operation FANSAN YAMMA was immediately dispatched on armed reconnaissance and possible rescue mission.

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“On arrival in the area, over 30 motorcycles carrying armed terrorists heading into the nearby forest were positively identified. On sighting the aircraft, the terrorists opened fire, prompting a precision engagement that led to the destruction of several motorcycles and the neutralisation of dozens of terrorists.

“Ground forces were immediately mobilised to exploit the situation. They confirmed the destruction of enemy assets and the neutralisation of over 20 terrorists.

“Unfortunately, in the course of the operation, two local vigilantes lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in the crossfire.”

NAF assured Nigerians that the service would continue to take necessary measures to protect civilians during operations.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will pursue locally driven solutions in addressing the nation’s security challenges.

Air Marshal Abubakar said this at the NAF Research and Development Competition and Exhibition as part of activities marking the NAF’s 61st Anniversary in Abuja yesterday.

According to the NAF chief, in a rapidly changing world, anticipating, adapting and innovating are crucial for transforming the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets national security demands in all operational environments.

He said the competitions and exhibitions served as impetus to push the boundaries of their abilities and expertise to greater heights.

The CAS said: “NAF plays a central role in defending our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The demands for locally driven solutions become increasingly urgent.

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“In response, the service has made steady progress through dedicated research, development and innovation, emerging as a national leader in aerospace advancements.

“For instance, the development of rockets and launchers, heat shields, weaponization of aircraft, retrofitting of unserviceable rockets, production of blank firing adapters and the various unmanned aerial systems prototypes.

“This, coupled with innovative human capacity development in science, technology and innovation, are a few examples of creativity and technical skills acquired by the NAF over the years.

“These feats have indeed helped in sustaining our operations in the various theaters across the country.

“In recognition of the vital place of research and development, we have recently installed eight assorted computer and numerical control machines at the Air Force Research and Development Institute in Oshogbo.”

Air Marshal Abubakar said that the production of six unmanned aerial vehicles, in collaboration with UAVision of Portugal, was expected to be completed and operational in the last quarter of the year.

He added that other steps taken to enhance research and development include selecting and funding five best projects from the last inter-command research and development competition.

“These projects when completed will be deployed in appropriate rules with a view to monitoring and constantly improving the performance of the initial photo types.

“I want to assure you that some of the outstanding projects on display today will similarly attract funding towards the operationalisation.

“In the spirit of civil military cooperation, let me use this opportunity to encourage members of the Defence Industries Association of Nigeria to take a look at some of these projects with a view to partnering with the Nigerian Air Force for their operationalisation and possible commercialisation.

“Through this approach, we can incrementally advance our promising innovations towards expeditious completion, operationalisation and sale to both local and potential foreign customers.”

In his remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu, said the R&D Competition and Exhibition exemplified NAF’s commitment to innovation, self-reliance and technological advancement.

Halilu said the NAF had consistently led the charge in harnessing research and development to strengthen Nigeria’s defence capabilities.

The Nigerian Air Force and Army’s joint operations resulted in the neutralisation of over 1,150 terrorists and the destruction of 669 structures in the North West in 17 months, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said.

Air Marshal Abubakar said this while delivering a lecture to participants of Army War College Nigeria’s Course 9/2025 in Abuja, yesterday.

He said: “In the past year alone, the Air Component of the Northeast Operation conducted 1,026 sorties, encompassing intensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Air Interdiction, and Armed Reconnaissance missions.

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“These operations amassed over 2,236 flight hours and have played a vital role in restoring peace across several troubled local government areas within the theatre.

 “Additionally, under the Northwest, since June 2023, air-ground synergy has led to the neutralisation of multiple insurgent and bandit leaders and the destruction of over 265 terrorist hideouts in Sector 1 alone. In Sector 2, joint efforts have neutralised more than 1,150 terrorists and destroyed 404 criminal structures.”

 Abubakar said these feats were made possible through NAF’s enhanced Concept of Operations (CONOPS), which is tailored to deliver decisive and synchronized effects in joint military campaigns.

According to him, a key feature of the recalibration is the seamless integration of manned and unmanned aerial platforms, enhanced communication systems, and real-time data links to boost situational awareness and enable faster, precision-based decision-making.

 He said: “To enhance our CONOPS to address emerging security challenges, we will work towards seamless integration of both manned and unmanned air assets, to achieve decisive airpower effects.

“This approach ensures greater agility and responsiveness in joint operations.” A core component of this operational enhancement is synergy with sister services, particularly the Nigerian Army.”

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has trained over 1,500 personnel in various safety-related disciplines, including fire safety and prevention.

Chief of Air Staff (CAS)  Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar made  this known  at the handing over of refurbished and upgraded fire trucks,   in Abuja yesterday.

Air Marshal Abubakar said upgrading of the equipment underscored his commitment to building a safety-conscious force.

 He said:  “This event is not merely a symbolic gesture, but a visible demonstration of our unrelenting commitment to operational readiness, safety, and enhanced emergency response capability.

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“It is indeed a testament to the fulfilment of my command philosophy to ‘transform the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the airpower demands of national security in all operational environments.”’

“The overarching objective of my command philosophy is to reposition the Nigerian Air Force to effectively fulfil its constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of our nation through the air. In pursuit of this imperative, my administration has placed air operations at the heart of our strategic focus, with particular emphasis on fleet expansion, combat readiness, and operational safety.”

Air Marshal Abubakar said  NAF was undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of fire safety equipment to ensure seamless and secure air operations across all units.

This, according to him, is in addition to establishing a centralized Fire Safety Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, which would be integrated into NAF’s well-established Safety Management System (SMS).

“We are confident that the implementation of these reforms will lead to a significant reduction in fire incidents across Nigerian Air Force bases nationwide, thereby reinforcing the safety and effectiveness of our operations,”  he said.

“We upgraded both mechanical, electrical, overhauling, replacement and upgrading of the pump system from analog to present modern fire fighting trucks,” he said.

“We also reconverted an old fire truck that was manufactured in 1982-83 and I brought it back, installed a modern pumping system that is 2022-2023 standard. That are what we are looking at today.”

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) high command on Wednesday met to review global and local security factors that may affect its operations in 2025.

The first quarter meeting, chaired by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, was attended by Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), and the Commandant.

Speaking at the meeting, which was held at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja, Air Marshal Abubakar said Nigeria’s security situation cannot be isolated from happenings around the world, due to the highly interconnected nature of today’s global environment.

According to him, the international security landscape remains fluid, characterized by uncertainties, heightened geopolitical tensions, and evolving security threats.

He said: “As we all know, the United States plays a pivotal role in global peace and security. Consequently, the recent change in its administration and the evolving foreign policy signals have introduced uncertainties for many nations as they assess the potential impact on their strategic interests.

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“We are not exempt from these dynamics, as our experience has shown that defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States is often influenced by political considerations. Hence, we must proactively plan to mitigate any likely impact on the ongoing AH1-Z helicopter procurement and other training courses that might be conducted in the US.

“In Europe, the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to influence global defence strategies, with nations prioritizing missile technologies, air defence systems, drone warfare, and cyber capabilities over more traditional warfare methods. This is a phenomenon we must study carefully as an Air Force and adapt quickly through innovation as we enhance our operational capabilities, going forward.

“Similarly, the Middle East remains highly unstable as a result of uncertainties in Syria and the aftermath of the conflict between Israel and Hamas as well as its neighbours. A key lesson from these conflicts is the rise in the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, artificial intelligence, drone warfare, and the manipulation of social media in shaping war narratives.

“We must critically examine these trends and quickly come up with specific strategies, including refining doctrines and utilizing advanced technological capabilities, to enhance our overall effectiveness in tackling contemporary and future security challenges. Particularly, conventional and unconventional forces in asymmetric warfare.”

On the security situation in the West African subregion, the NAF boss said the Sahel region continued to be a hotspot for terrorism with extremist groups exploiting weak governance structures to expand their influence. He said the situation was the same in the Gulf of Guinea, which he said remains vulnerable to maritime crimes.

“Addressing these challenges requires a unified approach, emphasizing coordinated air operations, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

Air Marshal Abubakar said the military has recorded significant strides in counterinsurgency operations in the North-East and North-West in the first third quarter of last year, due to increased synergy between the NAF and ground forces which led to the killing of high-profile terrorist leaders and commanders.

He said: “However, despite our heightened efforts, the highly volatile, uncertain, and complex security situation in the Sahel region continues to feed insecurity in Nigeria, as we have seen in the emergence of the Lakurawa group in the North-West.

“We sustain this momentum, as jointly planned and executed operations have consistently delivered positive results,” the CAS added.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, says the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will take delivery of 50 brand new aircrafts between December and 2026.

Abubakar made this known at the second biannual meeting with Branch chiefs and Air Officers Commanding, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that NAF had successfully inducted 12 aircrafts into its inventory over the past year, saying it was a remarkable achievement that the service had not witnessed in a very long time.

According to him, these are exciting times that demand innovative thinking, resilience, and dedication.

He encouraged officers and men to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and loyalty as they contribute to the overall mission of the NAF.

“A few months ago, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force, which ushered us into a golden era of transformation and evolution.

“Over the past years, we have successfully inducted 12 aircrafts into our inventory, and God willing, we shall take delivery of 50 brand new aircrafts between December this year and 2026.

“This is a remarkable achievement that we have not witnessed in a very long time.

“Indeed, these are exciting times that demand innovative thinking, resilience, and dedication.

“I am confident that, under your leadership, the men and women under your commands will rise to the occasion and excel in all tasks set before them,” he said.

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The CAS said that several critical issues were discussed leading to a number of resolutions and recommendations during the last meeting with Branch chiefs and AOCs in June.

He said that a number of those resolutions had been implemented including the establishment of two new staff branches, namely the Civil Military Relations Branch and NAF Transformation and Innovation Branch.

“Over the past few months, we have also seen progress in several key areas.

“Our air operations, particularly the expanded counterinsurgency in the North-West region as well as anti-oil theft operations in the South-South have yielded significant results.

“This would not have been possible without the transformational leadership of Branch Chiefs and AOCs as well as the relentless efforts and dedication of the officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force.

“It is your tireless work, both on the front lines and behind the scenes, that drives our mission forward.

“Inspite of our successes, more needs to be done, especially as regards the application of airpower to meet national security imperatives,” he added.

Abubakar said the meeting would offer them the opportunity to critically review progress, address shortcomings, recalibrate strategies and strengthen their unity of purpose towards achieving the desired objectives.

He said the decisions made from the forum must be grounded in sound judgment and a firm grasp of their objectives.

(NAN)