July 21, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it is expecting 51 additional platforms to boost counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations in the country.
Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Hasan Abubakar, disclosed this in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, during his maiden operational tour of NAF units across the country.
According to the CAS, the platforms include two Agusta 109 Trekker Multi-role helicopters, two Beechcraft King Air 360, three Diamond DA-62 surveillance aircraft and six T-129 ATAK helicopters.
Other pending acquisitions include 2 CASA-295 medium airlift/surveillance aircraft, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and 24 M-346 attack aircraft.
Abubakar, according to a statement issued on Friday, by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, noted that the acquisition of additional platforms would bolster training, air power employment and projection.
He added that all the acquisitions demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to equipping the NAF for the safe conduct of training and agile airpower employment to meet the Nation’s security challenges.
“While the NAF augments its airpower measures and approaches, it will also continue to promote seamless interoperability of equipment and joint force employment by the various services,” he said.
The NAF chief enjoined personnel to cooperate with other services and security agencies to meet the high expectations of Nigerians in the Armed Forces.
