Air Chief bemoans dependence on foreign aircraft, spare parts
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has expressed dissatisfaction with the heavy reliance on foreign countries for aircraft and spare parts.
Abubakar, who recalled his time as the Commander of the 101 Presidential Air Fleet, stated that there are significant constraints associated with the high dependency on imported aircraft spares and equipment to sustain flight operations.
Speaking at the 2024 NAF Research and Development Retreat in Abuja on Tuesday, he noted that only by developing indigenous capacity for aircraft manufacturing and spare parts production through research and development can the service reduce its dependency on foreign military products.
He said, “As Commander of the 101 Presidential Air Fleet, I experienced first-hand the serious constraints that accompany our high dependency on the importation of aircraft spares and equipment to sustain flight operations.
“Years later, as the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, with the Nigerian Air Force Research and Development activities under my purview, I gained a clearer understanding of the critical role that research and development play in mitigating our sustainment and operational challenges as a service.”
He added that the Nigerian Air Force is rapidly building the necessary capacity to sustain the operation and maintenance of 50 brand-new aircraft expected to be added to its fleet between December 2024 and 2026.
He stated, “Accordingly, the Nigerian Air Force is fast building the requisite capacity to sustain the operation and maintenance of 50 brand new aircraft expected to be added to its fleet between December 2024 and 2026.
“It is only by developing indigenous capacity for aircraft manufacturing and maintenance spares production through research and development that we can reduce our dependence on foreign military products.”
He noted that the service had commenced the construction of unmanned aerial vehicles and rocket launchers, among other projects.
Abubakar said, “I am also pleased to mention that the operationalisation of the TSAIGUMI Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has been revived in partnership with UAVision of Portugal. Currently, the project has reached an advanced stage.
“Additionally, it is worth noting that the NAF is leveraging a strategic partnership with Messrs Zenith Prom of Serbia on technology transfer for 57mm rocket 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.”
The Chief of Air Staff stated that this development would better position the NAF to conduct high-level research and access more research funding.
He added that the research efforts of the NAF were not limited to hardware only but also included software, noting that the NAF had implemented a bespoke digital correspondence application, popularly called the ‘Paperless System’, in May.
