NAF Commences Depot Maintenance of Alpha Jets,Expects New Attack Helicopters
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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance its ability to more effectively and efficiently employ air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives. Most recently in this regard, the NAF has commenced the in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of 3 Alpha Jet aircraft at the 407 Air Combat Training Group (407 ACTG) Kainji. The in-country PDM, which commenced on 19 December 2018, is expected to further boost aircraft availability for the conduct of air operations, whilst enhancing the capacity of NAF engineers and technicians involved in the maintenance activity. It would also further improve the NAF’s self-reliance and prudent management of resources. It may be recalled that, with the support of the Federal Government, the NAF is also conducting in-country PDM of one of its C-130 aircraft, NAF 917, at the 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot (631 ACMD). The PDM on NAF 917 has reached an advanced stage while the in-house life extension programme on another C-130H aircraft, NAF 913, was completed earlier this year. These have all contributed to raising the serviceability status of NAF operable aircraft from about 36 per cent in 2015 to its current levels of between 78 and 82 per cent.
It is also noteworthy that the NAF recently recovered another Alpha Jet aircraft, NAF 476, from the United States of America. The aircraft, which was ferried into Nigeria on 6 December 2018, would soon be deployed for operations in the Northeast. Furthermore, the NAF is expecting the delivery of the first batch of Agusta Westland 109 Power attack helicopters, comprising 2 units, ordered from Italy. The aircraft would be inducted into the Service by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, in March 2019.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
