Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has affirmed that the current security environment in the country occasioned by its fluidity, has not only made air power indispensable, but unrivalled.
Thus, the NAF said there is a critical need to continually adapt and innovate in the face of rapid technological advancements and creative adversaries.
Speaking at the Seminar held by the Department of Air Warfare Operations in Jaji, Kaduna State, NAF Chief of Training and Operations, CTOP, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdulkadir noted that for the NAF to be on a path to being a resilient force of reckon, its operations will be largely driven by leveraging cutting-edge technology, conceptual revolutions in airpower as well as the key enablers of the Chief of the Air Staff’s command philosophy.
These enablers, some of which harp on force structure optimization and deliberate training/mission-oriented force development, would play critical roles alongside technology to firm up NAF’s ambition of becoming a resilient and agile force, a statement issued on Wednesday by NAF’s spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, stated.
The statement noted that the recent upgrade of NAF’s Order of Battle through the induction of platforms such as the T-129 ATAK helicopters were deliberate acquisitions tailored to NAF’s operational needs of aircraft with multirole capabilities and durable with cost-efficient maintenance protocols.
Speaking further, Air Vice Marshal Abdulkadir underscored the importance of an effective man-machine synergy to the actualization of a resilient force, hence the reason why courses taught at the Department of Air Warfare were painstakingly vetted for relevance and value with nominees restricted to the most qualified. With these and other measures emplaced, he continued, the NAF intends to nurture an air force that is flexible, adaptable, and resilient enough to withstand the ever-evolving trends in air power vis-Ã -vis an ever-evolving security environment.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Commandant of the College, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Alhaji noted that the uncertain and complex operational environment has not only rendered airpower critical but also made its effects unmatched. However, according to him, to sustain effectiveness, practitioners in airpower must consistently seek contemporary and innovative strategies to be ahead of the adversaries.
