NAF AIRCRAFT FLEET ENHANCEMENT

Under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government has acquired over 26 brand new aircraft to boost the combat readiness of the NAF in the last 6 years. The newly acquired aircraft include 10 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, 5 new Mi-35M helicopter gunships and 2 Bell 412 helicopters. Others include 4 Agusta 109 Power attack helicopters, 2 Mi-171E helicopters and, more recently, 3 JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft. Today, we are witnessing the induction of 6 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft out of the 12 already purchased by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. It is expected that the remaining 6 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft as well as some Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles, which will arrive the country before the end of the year will boost NAF's air power employment capabilities in support of joint operations. In the same vein, through the unwavering support of President Buhari, 20 previously grounded aircraft including the Falcon 900, ATR-42, Beechcraft, Super Puma, F-7Ni, EC-135, Do-228, Mi-24V, Mi-35P, C-130H, L-39ZA and Alpha Jet aircraft have been reactivated. Additionally, for the first time in its history, the NAF successfully conducted multiple in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) on 2 C-130H, 3 L-39ZA aircraft, 2 Mi-35P helicopters as well as 3 Alpha Jet aircraft. The acquisitions and reactivation as well as the emplacement of robust logistics support structure have enabled the NAF to raise the serviceability status of operable aircraft from about 35 per cent in 2015 to about 72% as of 20 August 2021.