The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday said plans are afoot to acquire an additional 18 aircraft by 2020 to boost operations.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Chairman, Organising Committee for the 2019 NAF Day Celebration, Air Commodore Nnamdi Ananaba, disclosed that the brands of the aircrafts, are 4 X A-109 Power and 1 X Mi-35M, 1 X AW139 helicopter and 12 Super Tucano.
He also said 14 grounded aircraft such as the Falcon 900, ATR-42, Beechcraft, Super Puma, EC-135 Do-228, Mi-35P, F-7 and L-39 had been reactivated.
The Air force top brass said that with hindsight NAF had realised that it had a lot to celebrate and showcase,adding “The NAF has winged 90 pilots in the last three years, while 68 others are in training both at home and abroad.
Ananaba said NAF had metamorphosed from being a service which, during the civil war, rolled bombs out of aircraft by hand, to one that is highly professional and equipped.
Ananaba said: “On acquisition of platforms, the NAF within the last three years has taken delivery of 16 brand new aircraft (10 X Super Mushshak, 4 X Mi-35M and 2 X Bell 412 helicopters).
“Another 18 (4 X A-109 Power and 1 X Mi-35M, 1 X AW139 helicopter and 12 Super Tucano) are either expected soon or have been paid for and are expected to be inducted into service in 2020.’’
He said that the air force was now equipped with advanced aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of precision strikes from as far away as 250 kilometres.
“There has obviously been a remarkable change, much of which was achieved within the last three and a half years.
‘’Over 7,000 personnel have been trained in different specialities and these include over 4,000 regiment personnel and 1,000 Special Forces personnel who have been actively involved in combat operations with the army.
‘’Through all these, there have been operational gains in several internal security operations in the country,” he stated.
