The Nigeria. Airforce is set to take delivery of additional aircraft, including a new multi-role fighter aircraft, the ‘3 JF-17 fighter’ and 8 other Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs), whilst also reactivating several existing platforms such as the F-7Ni fighter jet. The the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, made this known on Monday 9, 2020 during an operational visit to NAF Base Makurdi to assess the ongoing reactivation work on the F-7 aircraft.
While in Makurdi, the CAS also commissioned some infrastructural projects, including the newly-remodeled and fully-furnished NAF School of Air Intelligence (NAFSAINT) as well as a block of 10 unit single bedroom and block of 6 unit 2-bedroom accommodation for the Pakistani pilots and technicians who would support the JF-17 aircraft during the first year of its operations in Nigeria.
The CAS was also briefed on the progress of some ongoing Research and Development (R&D) projects, which include a handheld single-rocket launcher and 6-tube rocket launcher, being jointly executed by the 131 Engineering Group and the 633 Central Armament Depot (633 CAD) Makurdi.
Speaking after assessing the progress of work on the F-7Ni aircraft, the CAS expressed extreme delight that the Federal Government’s support to the NAF was yielding great dividends in ensuring the Service has the required platforms to more effectively secure the Nation.
He noted that this was evident in the volume of ongoing reactivation work on several grounded aircraft to bring them back to serviceable status. “Recall that, just last week, we were in Kainji to assess the progress of ongoing in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) on 2 Alpha Jet aircraft.
Today, we are in Makurdi for the reactivation of the F-7 aircraft and, by next week, we will be in Kano to see what is going on with the Life Extension Programme (LEP) of another batch of 3 L-39ZA aircraft”, he said. Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized that these activities clearly showed the level of seriousness with which the Government is working to ensure that the NAF gets some of its grounded aircraft back to flying status.
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