By Sumaila Ogbaje
Nigerian Air Force is building the requisite capacity to sustain the operation and maintenance of 50 new aircraft, expected to be added to its fleet between December 2024 and 2026.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2024 NAF Research and Development (R&D) Retreat with the theme “Exploring Indigenous Technology and Innovation Towards Driving NAF Transformation.”
Abubakar said NAF could only reduce dependency on foreign military products by developing indigenous capacity for aircraft
manufacturing and maintenance of spares through R&D.
He said the service is a pacesetter in Aerospace Research and Development, ranging from the construction of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to production of rocket launchers, among others.
According to him, NAF is also producing heat shields, spares fabrication, weaponisation of aircraft and retrofitting of unserviceable rockets and the production of blank firing adapters.
“These feats ensured that Nigerian Air Force platforms and equipment are maintained at reasonable serviceability rates for effective deployment in the various theatres of operation.
“I am also pleased to mention that the operationalisation of the TSAIGUMI Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has been resuscitated, in partnership with UAVision of Portugal.
“Currently, the project has reached advanced stage.
“Additionally, it is worth mentioning that NAF is leveraging strategic partnership with Messrs Zenith Prom of Serbia on technology transfer of 57mm rockets production.
“We are also building our institutional capacity for Research and Development, as evidenced by the recent upgrade of the Air Force Research and Development Centre into an institute,” he said.
The CAS said the development would better position NAF to conduct high-level research and access more research funding.
He said the research efforts of NAF was not limited to hardware only but software also, adding that NAF had in May, implemented a bespoke Digital Correspondence (DIGCO) application, popularly called the ‘Paperless System’.
The software, according to him, has totally transformed the way NAF creates, treats and archives its correspondences, making the process faster, secure and efficient.
“Another software being developed is the Nigerian Air Force Integrated Management System (NAFIMS).
“This innovative enterprise resource package being built in partnership with QuaterOne Consulting, will unify existing NAF software into a single, robust platform, enabling swift decision-making and seamless data coordination.
“Upon completion, NAFIMS will automate routine tasks, significantly reducing manual labor hours and boosting operational efficiency,” he added.
Abubakar said the retreat was in furtherance of the fourth key enabler of his Command Philosophy, which is “Prioritising Research and Development leveraging cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships and lessons learnt.
According to him, this retreat provides a unique forum for experienced and committed personalities to discuss and propound innovative ideas for advancing the NAF’s R&D efforts from conception to operationalisation.
The Chief of Transformation and Innovation, NAF, AVM Adeniyi Amesinlola, said that recent retrospection had shown the need for transition of many of NAF’s R&D conceptualisations from initial prototype stage to operationalisation.
Amesinlola said the move was to enable the NAF derive optimal benefit from its huge investments in R&D.
He said the retreat would accords them the opportunity to generate new ideas and approaches towards prioritising R&D cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships in support of ongoing transformation of the service.
“Working with other stakeholders in R & D, the Transformation and Innovation Branch is eager to receive inputs from you to further enhance Research and Development coordination in the Nigerian Air Force.
“The branch will also be committed to implementing resolutions that will come out of this retreat,” he said.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA