The Nigerian Air Force has said the fluid nature of the Nigerian security environment has made air power not only indispensable but unrivalled.
The chief of training and operations (CTOP), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abubakar Abdulkadir stated this at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Department of Air Warfare Air Operations Seminar with the theme “Evolving Character of Air Power in Modern Warfare: Nigerian Air Force Combat Operations in Perspective,” held at Jaji, Kaduna State from 12-13 February 2024.
In a statement by the director of public relations and information AVM Edward Gabkwet, he stressed the need to continually adapt and innovate in the face of rapid technological advancements and creative adversaries.
He added that the NAF path to being a resilient force of reckon will be 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,” he said.
He stated 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.
Abdulkadir underscored the importance of an effective man-machine synergy to the actualisation of a resilient force.
He said 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-à-vis an ever-evolving security environment.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the commandant of the college, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Alhaji, said 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.
According to him, “Our current operational and fiscal realities demand the creative employment of multidomain capabilities with air power as a key enabler.