CAS Deepens Defence Ties with Czech Republic, Pushes NAF Modernisation Drive
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to modernisation, self-reliance and strategic global partnerships during an official visit to the Czech Republic from February 23 to 24, 2026.
The high-level visit formed part of ongoing efforts to leverage international collaboration in strengthening training, sustainment and operational capability development in response to evolving security challenges. It also underscored the Nigerian Air Force’s growing profile as a forward-looking and professionally adaptive service focused on long-term institutional capacity building.
During engagements with Aero Vodochody Aerospace, the CAS reaffirmed the enduring partnership supporting the overhaul and upgrade of the L-39ZA aircraft in the Nigerian fleet. The upgrade programme has continued to enhance pilot training standards and operational proficiency.
Discussions also focused on the Nigerian Air Force’s structured transition to the more advanced L-39 Skyfox platform, a move aimed at aligning its training architecture with modern air warfare requirements while ensuring continuity in pilot development.
Read Also:
In separate high-level talks with the Czech Air Force, both sides explored expanded cooperation in pilot training, simulator capacity development and logistics collaboration across rotary- and fixed-wing operations. The engagements reflected a shared commitment to professional excellence and sustained capability enhancement.
The visit further included interactions with defence industry stakeholders, where the CAS gained insights into advanced flight simulators, parachute training systems, unmanned aerial technologies and other emerging solutions critical to contemporary air power operations.
Emphasising that modern defence partnerships must extend beyond hardware acquisition, Air Marshal Aneke stressed the importance of knowledge exchange, innovation and technology transfer as key pillars of sustainable military modernisation.
He reiterated that the Nigerian Air Force’s transformation agenda is anchored on leveraging innovation, emerging technologies and international partnerships to build a resilient, mission-focused and globally engaged air force capable of addressing Nigeria’s dynamic security landscape.
The strategic visit is expected to deepen bilateral defence relations between Nigeria and the Czech Republic while accelerating the Nigerian Air Force’s capacity-building and operational modernisation efforts.
By PRNigeria
