Although an Air Force was originally proposed in 1958, many lawmakers preferred to rely on the United Kingdom for air defense.[citation needed] But during peacekeeping operations in Congo and Tanganyika, the Nigerian Army had no air transport of its own, and so in 1962, the government began to recruit cadets for pilot training in various foreign countries, with the first ten being taught by the Egyptian Air Force.[4]
1960s
The Nigerian Air Force was formally established on 18 April 1964 with the passage of the Air Force Act 1964. The Act stated that the "Nigerian Air Force shall be charged with the defense of the Federal Republic by air, and to give effect thereto, the personnel shall be trained in such duties as in the air as well as on the ground." The NAF was formed with technical assistance from then West Germany (now Federal Republic of Germany). The air force started life as a transport unit with the first air crew trained with the Ethiopian Air Force, the second set of undergo training in February 1963 with Royal Canadian Air Force while some were sent to the Indian Air Force.[5]
The head of the German Air Force Assistance Group (GAFAG) was Colonel Gerhard Kahtz, and he became the first commander of the NAF. The nucleus of the NAF was thus established with the formation of the Nigerian Air Force headquarters at the Ministry of Defense.
The NAF did not acquire combat capability until several Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 aircraft were presented by the Soviet Union in support of Nigeria’s war effort during the Nigerian Civil War. On 13 August 1967, following several damaging attacks by Biafran aircraft, the USSR started delivering the first MiG-17s from Egypt to Kano IAP, simultaneously sending a large shipment aboard a Polish merchant ship. Initially two MiG-15UTI (NAF601 and NAF 602), and eight MiG-17 (NAF603 to NAF610) were supplied to Nigeria. Later six Il-28 bombers, initially flown upon deployment by Egyptian and Czech pilots, were delivered from Egypt and stationed at Calabar and Port Harcourt.
1970s
In July 1971, the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that NAF had 7,000 personnel and 32 combat aircraft: six Ilyushin Il-28 medium bombers, eight MiG-17, eight Aero L-29 Delfín jet trainers, and 10 P-149D trainers. Other aircraft included six C-47, 20 Do-27/28, and eight Westland Whirlwind and Alouette II helicopters.
During the 1970s, Nigeria bought Lockheed C-130 Hercules from the United States. Six were acquired at a total cost of $45 million. 25 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MFs and six MiG-21UM were delivered in 1975 upon the advent of the Murtala-Obasanjo administration that replaced the regime of General Yakubu Gowon. Most of these aircraft were deployed, making the NAF one of the most formidable air forces in Africa during this period.
Jimi Peters wrote: '..the 1975-1980 NAF development plan restructured NAF formations' into group (air force) level units that reported to air force headquarters. That structure, he went on, was found too cumbersome, and thus two intermediate commands (military formations) were formed in 1978: NAF Tactical Air Command and NAF Training Command.
1980s
From 1984, 18 SEPECAT Jaguar fighters (13 Jaguar SNs & 5 Jaguar BNs) were delivered and operated from Makurdi. They retired in 1991. Nigeria purchased 24 Aero L-39 Albatros armed jet trainers in 1986-87, having retired its fleet of L-29 that were donated to the Republic of Ghana Air Force at the inception of the West African Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) operations in Liberia. A subsequent attempt to expand the fleet by acquiring 27 more in 1991 was not executed.
2000s
In 2005, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian Parliament appropriated US$251 million to purchase 15 Chengdu F-7 fighter aircraft from China. The deal included 12 F-7NI (NI-Nigeria) single-seat fighter variant, and 3 FT-7NI dual-seat trainer aircraft. The $251 million package included $220 million for 15 aircraft, plus $32 million for armaments: live PL-9C AAM, training PL-9 rounds, unguided rockets, and 250/500 kg bombs. The pioneer NAF pilots on the aircraft trained in China in 2008, while delivery of the aircraft began in 2009. (Nigeria had previously considered a $160 million deal to refurbish its fleet of MiG-21s by Aerostar/Elbit Systems, IAI, and RSK MiG). However, it was considered more cost-effective to opt for acquiring the F-7s which were brand new. Nigeria also caused a modification of its variant of the F7, including installing some western equipment and avionics and hence its official designation as “F7-Ni” to reflect that its variant differs in some respects from a typical Chinese F-7. With this acquisition, her fleet of MiG 21s was subsequently grounded. The Federal Government of Nigeria under the same dispensation acquired some ATR Maritime Patrol aircraft for NAF, built by EADS and Finmeccania / Alenia Aeronautica, boosting the capacity of the service to carry out extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions on land and far into the sea.
From September 2009, Nigeria began refurbishing some of its C-130 aircraft beginning with the NAF 917 which it brought back to life with the support of U.S. Air Forces Africa and 118th Airlift Wing. The NAF has subsequently further improved its domestic capacity with the increase in the serviceability of a good number of its transport aircraft.
2010s
The NAF designed and built its first indigenous UAV, the "Gulma," which was unveiled by former president Goodluck Jonathan in Kaduna, who said that the "Gulma" would be useful in aerial imaging/mapping, telecommunications, and weather monitoring. According to him, the UAV was rapidly becoming an important tool in news coverage, environmental monitoring, and oil and gas exploration.[6]
On 24 March 2011, the new Air Officer Commanding of NAF Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal John Aprekuma, explained the rationale behind the establishment of the headquarters of the newly established Air Force Mobility Command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State as being part of the Federal Government's strategy to protect its socio-economic interest in the Niger Delta, affirming that the presence of the command's headquarters would bring about security and calm to the people of the State.
On 9 December 2011, the Nigerian Air Force commissioned its first female pilot, Blessing Liman, following a directive to the NAF hierarchy by former President Goodluck Jonathan, for the service to start offering flying opportunities to qualified Nigerian female citizens, especially since women had long been flying civil aviation aircraft in the country but did not get a chance to fly in the military.[7]
In March 2014, the Nigerian Government approached Pakistan for the purchase of joint Chinese-Pakistani made CAC/PAC JF-17 "Thunder" multi-role fighter aircraft. In December 2015, the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari presented a budget to the National Assembly that included N5bn for three JF-17 aircraft. On March 28, 2018, 'The Diplomat' reported Pakistan as confirming the sale of three JF-17s to Nigeria. In March 2020, NAF Chief of Air Staff announced the delivery schedule of three JF-17 Thunder to be affected in November 2020. It is understood that the Buhari administration will expand the fleet of JF-17 fighter aircraft upon an expression of satisfaction by NAF Generals, with the performance of the initial batch procured.
In December 2017, NAF formally announced that the United States of America had agreed to sell the A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft to Nigeria after the deal had previously stalled. The success of this transaction is credited to the persistent negotiation and diplomatic skills of the Buhari administration.
In November 2018, Sierra Nevada was officially awarded the contract for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft for the NAF, with an estimated completion date by 2024.
On 2 January 2019, one Mi-35M attack helicopter from the Nigerian Air Force helicopter squadron crashed in Damasak, Borno State while providing close-air support for troops of the 145 Battalion combating Boko Haram insurgents, killing all onboard. The Mi-35 in the fleet of the NAF is the top-of-the-range model acquired in the life of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari that had also ordered several Mi-171 and Agusta 109 helicopters from both Mil Moscow Helicopters of Russia and Italy's Leonardo Aerospace for the service.
On 15 October 2019, the NAF winged its first female combat fighter jet pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kafayat Sanni, and its first female combat helicopter pilot Lieutenant Tolulope Arotile. They were amongst thirteen other pilots also winged on the same day.[8][9]
In April 2020, Embraer reported the completion of the first set of Super Tucanos out of the 12 on order, with an expected full delivery in 2021.
Structure
The Air Force includes a service headquarters, 6 principal staff branches, 4 direct reporting units, and 4 operational commands.[10]
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) is the principal or lead adviser to the President and also the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff, on air-related defense matters. The Nigerian Air Force headquarters is responsible for establishing long and short-term mission objectives and articulating policies, carrying out plans and procedures for the attainment of peace and stability. Also, HQ Nigerian Air Force liaises with the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy on joint operational policies and plans. The headquarters Nigerian Air Force consists of the office of the Chief of the Air Staff and 8 staff or branches namely; Policy and Plans Branch, Operations Branch, Air Engineering Branch, Logistics Branch, Administration Branch, Accounts and Budget Branch, Inspections Branch and Air Secretary Branch respectively. Each of these branches is headed by an Air Vice Marshal as branch chief.
Nigerian Air Force Tactical Air Command (TAC), with its headquarters situated at Makurdi, is responsible for interpreting, implementing and controlling Nigerian Air Force operational plans.
Nigerian Air Force Mobility Command, headquartered at Yenagoa, was established in 2011. It has five other commands located in Lagos, Ilorin, Calabar, Warri and Abuja. The Mobility Command performs tactical and strategic airlift in support of government and military operations.
Nigerian Air Force Training Command, located at Old Kaduna Airport, is chiefly responsible for the training of recruits, ground support crew, and technicians.[13][14]
Nigerian Air Force Logistics Command, headquartered at Ikeja, Lagos, is tasked to acquire, maintain and sustain equipment in a state of operational readiness and at a minimum cost consistent with Nigerian Air Force mission requirements.
reportedly in development since 2017. Not yet seen.
Incidents and accidents
On 26 September 1992, a NAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules serial number 911 crashed three minutes after take-off from Lagos, Nigeria, when three engines failed, possibly due to high take-off weight. All 158 people on board were killed, including eight foreign nationals.[42]
On 25 January 2015, a photo appeared online at Beegeagle's Blog, appearing to show a CASC Rainbow CH-3 UCAV which crashed upside down near Dumge village in the Mafa District of Borno State. The two anti-tank missiles on the CH-3's wings appear to be intact. Borno is the area where much of the Boko Haram violence, including the massacre of 2,000 civilians, occurred in 2015. Currently, the Nigerian military is fighting to hold onto the city of Maiduguri against a Boko Haram onslaught, so it appears likely that the CH-3 in question was flying reconnaissance and fire support missions for the military when it crashed. The use of armed drones by Nigerian forces in combat makes Nigeria one of the first five countries to do that in combat history.[citation needed]
On 28 September 2018, a fatal air collision involving two F-7 aircraft occurred during a formation flying exercise involving an Aeritalia G.222 and three Alpha Jets as they practiced flight maneuvers for the 58th Independence Day celebrations in the capital, Abuja. As the F-7 jets turned to the formation flying, their wings clipped each other's side.[43] Both planes lost stability due to the collision and it resulted to the spiral loss of both jets and they both crashed at the Katampe district of Abuja. Three pilots ejected out of the crippled jets. The two pilots who were on the F-7Ni ejected and landed with minor G-force injuries, and the third pilot on the F-7 ejected and sustained head injuries due to the problems from the parachute as it deployed. The pilot later died thereafter, on the way to the hospital as emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash. The Nigerian Air Force was notified and responded with search and rescue for all three pilots, while witnesses helped in evacuating the pilots from their stricken planes.[44][45]
On 31 March 2021, an Alpha Jet crashed near Borno State in North Eastern Nigeria, after it was conducting an air interdiction on Boko Haram. At about 5:08 p.m., the jet was reported to have stopped pinging on radar and presumed to have crashed. The wreckage was reported missing and found nineteen months later by Nigerian Army troops.[46][47]
On 18 July 2021, while returning from an air interdiction mission in the North Western region of Nigeria along the Kaduna-Zamfara state boundaries, an Alpha Jet piloted by Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo was shot down by "armed bandits" in Zamfara State. Flight Lieutenant Dairo successfully ejected from the plane, evaded capture and made his way to a Nigerian Armed Forces base in the area with minor injuries. He was given a "hero's return" by the Chief of Defense Staff and other top officers, Armed Forces of Nigeria, General Lucky Irabor, alongside other military top brass.[48][49]
On 14 July 2023, while on a routine training exercise in Markudi, Benue State, a Chengdu FT-7 crashed at 4:15 pm WAT local time. Both pilots ejected out of the jet and were rescued by the Air Force personnel assigned to search and rescue.[50]
On 14 August 2023, a NAF MI-171 Helicopter, which was involved in on "casualty evacuation mission", encountered a crash at approximately 1:00 pm. The helicopter's initial point of departure was Zungeru Primary School, with its destination set for Kaduna state. However, it was later determined that the helicopter had suffered a crash in the proximity of Chukuba Village, situated within the administrative jurisdiction of the Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State. The number of passengers or crew members could not be ascertained.[51][52] Meanwhile, Islamic Jihadists claimed responsibility for the incident.[53]
One fatal "error" happened in December 2023, when the Nigerian forces accidentally hit a village with an armed UAV in northwestern Nigeria killing 85 civilians[54][55] celebrating a Muslim festival. The army said they thought the people were rebels.[56]
^ abSmaldone, Joseph P. (1992). "National Security". In Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 296–297. LCCN92009026. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
Artikel ini sebatang kara, artinya tidak ada artikel lain yang memiliki pranala balik ke halaman ini.Bantulah menambah pranala ke artikel ini dari artikel yang berhubungan atau coba peralatan pencari pranala.Tag ini diberikan pada November 2022. Abby the Spoon LadyAbby the Spoon Lady tampil di Asheville, North Carolina.Informasi latar belakangNama lahirAbby RoachLahir29 Oktober 1981 (umur 42)Wichita, Kansas, United StatesAsalWichita, Kansas, A.S.GenreAmerican folkPekerjaan pemusik Aktivis p…
Îles BES Ne doit pas être confondu avec Antilles néerlandaises ou Caraïbes néerlandaises. Pays-Bas caribéensÎles BES Caribisch NederlandBES-eilanden (nl) Drapeau Administration Statut politique Municipalités à caractère particulier des Pays-Bas Démographie Population 25 019 hab. (2016) Densité 76 hab./km2 Langue(s) Néerlandais, anglais, papiamento Géographie Coordonnées 12° 11′ nord, 68° 14′ ouest Superficie 328 km2 Divers Monnaie…
Species of treeThis article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Cinnamomum osmophloeum – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Cinnamomum osmophloeum Conservation status Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae…
American executive in Major League Baseball Baseball player Lou GormanGeneral ManagerBorn: (1929-02-18)February 18, 1929Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.Died: April 1, 2011(2011-04-01) (aged 82)Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Teams Seattle Mariners (1977–1980) Boston Red Sox (1984–1993) Career highlights and awards Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame James Gerald Lou Gorman (February 18, 1929 – April 1, 2011)[1][2] was an American baseball executive, and the former general manager of…
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Road signs in Iceland – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2018) (Learn how and when to rem…
STS-61-HJenis misiPengiriman satelitOperatorNASADurasi misi7 hari (rencana) Properti wahanaWahana antariksaPesawat Ulang Alik Columbia AwakJumlah awak7AwakMichael L. CoatsJohn BlahaRobert C. SpringerJames F. BuchliAnna L. FisherNigel WoodPratiwi Sudarmono Awal misiTanggal luncur24 Juni 1986DibatalkanTempat peluncuranKennedy LC-39A Akhir MisiTanggal mendarat1 Juli 1986 MuatanSkynet 4A, Palapa B3, Westar 6S STS-61-H adalah misi wahana antariksa (Space Shuttle) Amerika Serikat yang…
English sportsman (1831–1924) Ebenezer Cobb MorleyPhotograph published at the time of the Football Association's 50th anniversary (1913).Born(1831-08-16)16 August 1831Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, EnglandDied20 November 1924(1924-11-20) (aged 93)Richmond, Surrey, EnglandResting placeBarnes, Richmond, London, EnglandNationalityEnglishOccupationSolicitorKnown forSecretary and President of the Football AssociationSpouseFrances BidgoodParent(s)Ebenezer Morley and Hannah M…
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: GNAT Modified General Public License – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The GNU logo The GNAT Modified General Public License (short: Modified GPL, GMGPL) is a version of the GNU General Public…
Kenyan ethnic group This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Ethnic group AembuTotal population608,599[1]Regions with significant populationsKenyaLanguagesKiembu, Kiswahili, and EnglishReligionChristianity, Islam, Irreligious and African Traditional ReligionRelated ethnic groupsKikuyu, Mer…
History of the Argentina national team at the World Cup For the women's team, see Argentina at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Argentina celebrating their victory in the 1986 FIFA World Cup final in Mexico This is a record of Argentina's results at the FIFA World Cup. Argentina is one of the most successful teams in the tournament's history, having won three World Cups: in 1978, 1986, and 2022. Argentina has also been runner-up three times: in 1930, 1990 and 2014. In 18 World Cup tournaments, Argent…
American retired soccer player Alecko Eskandarian Eskandarian in 2009Personal informationFull name Alecko EskandarianDate of birth (1982-07-09) July 9, 1982 (age 41)Place of birth Montvale, New Jersey, U.S.Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)Position(s) ForwardCollege careerYears Team Apps (Gls)2000–2002 Virginia Cavaliers 60 (50)Senior career*Years Team Apps (Gls)2003–2006 D.C. United 81 (20)2007 Toronto FC 6 (1)2007 Real Salt Lake 17 (1)2008–2009 Chivas USA 18 (6)2009–2010 Los…
President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 Mandela redirects here. Not to be confused with Mandala. For other uses, see Mandela (disambiguation) and Nelson Mandela (disambiguation). His ExcellencyNelson MandelaOMP SBG SBS CLS DMG MMS MMBMandela in 19941st President of South AfricaIn office10 May 1994 – 14 June 1999DeputyFrederik Willem de Klerk(1994–1996)Thabo Mbeki(1994–1999)Preceded byFrederik Willem de Klerk (as State President)Succeeded byThabo Mbe…
Ethnic group Albanians in South AmericaShqiptarët në Ameriken e jugutTotal populationca. 60,000 - 100,000[1]Regions with significant populationsArgentina · Brazil · Uruguay • Chile • ColombiaLanguagesSpanish, Portuguese, Albanian, ItalianReligionMajority ChristianityMinority Islam or irreligiousRelated ethnic groupsItalian diaspora, Albanian diaspora Part of a series onAlbanians By country Native Albania Kosovo Croatia Greece It…
Election in Connecticut Main article: 1860 United States presidential election 1860 United States presidential election in Connecticut ← 1856 November 2, 1860 1864 → Nominee Abraham Lincoln Stephen A. Douglas John C. Breckinridge Party Republican Democratic Southern Democratic Home state Illinois Illinois Kentucky Running mate Hannibal Hamlin Herschel V. Johnson Joseph Lane Electoral vote 6 0 0 Popular vote 43,486 17,364 16,558 Percentage 53.86% 2…
Ask Me What I AmAlbum studio karya Burt ReynoldsDirilis1973GenreEasy listeningLabelMercury/PhonogramProduserBobby Goldsboro Ask Me What I Am adalah album debut aktor Burt Reynolds. Album ini diproduseri oleh Bobby Goldsboro. Album ini dirilis tahun 1973 dibawah label Mercury/Phonogram. Daftar lagu Childhood 1949 — 3:12 Slow John Fairburn — 4:00 The First One That I Lay With — 2:41 Till I Get It Right — 2:20 She's Taken A Gentle Lover — 3:50 You Can't Always Sing A Happy Song — 2:…
For the grindcore band, see Exit-13. 2008 studio album by LL Cool JExit 13Studio album by LL Cool JReleasedSeptember 9, 2008Length72:43LabelDef JamProducer SRay Burghardt Cue Beats DJ Scratch The Dream-Team Frado & Absolut Dame Grease Illfonics Ryan Leslie Marley Marl Music Mystro Raw Uncut Tricky Stewart Streetrunner Suits LL Cool J chronology Todd Smith(2006) Exit 13(2008) All World 2(2009) Singles from Exit 13 CryReleased: June 17, 2008 Rocking with the G.O.A.T.Released: June 20, …
Questa voce sull'argomento calciatori brasiliani è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. AirtonNazionalità Brasile Altezza180 cm Peso77 kg Calcio RuoloCentrocampista Squadra North-MG CarrieraGiovanili 2007 Nova Iguaçu2007→ Mesquita2008→ Flamengo Squadre di club1 2008-2009 Flamengo30 (0)[1]2010-2011 Benfica19 (0)2011-2012→ Flamengo31 (1)[…
The Cisco Systems campus in San Jose Cisco Systems, Inc., commonly known as Cisco, is an American computer networking company. Cisco made its first acquisition in 1993,[1] which was followed by a series of further acquisitions. History Founded in 1984, Cisco did not acquire a company during the first seven years of its existence; but, on September 24, 1993, Cisco acquired Crescendo Communications, a LAN switching company.[2] Following the first Cisco takeover purchase, acquisitio…