Content deleted Content added
m v2.05b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation - Empty list item - Punctuation in link) |
→Current inventory: replace ref per WP:NOENG |
||
| (15 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Air warfare branch of Nigeria's military}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Nigerian Air Force
Line 12 ⟶ 13:
| type = [[Air force]]
| role = [[Aerial warfare]]
| size = approximately
| command_structure = [[Nigerian Armed Forces]]
| garrison = [[Abuja]], [[Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria|F.C.T.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.airforce.mil.ng/contact |title=NAF Contact Us |publisher=Airforce.mil.ng |access-date=
| garrison_label = Headquarters
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = ''"Willing
| colours = Green and White
| colours_label =
Line 24 ⟶ 25:
| mascot =
| anniversaries = [[Armed Forces Remembrance Day]] (15 January)
| equipment = Fighter
| equipment_label =
| battles = * [[Nigerian Civil War]]
Line 38 ⟶ 33:
* [[Boko Haram insurgency]]
* [[Northern Mali War]]
* [[Invasion of the Gambia|
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| flying_hours =
| website = {{
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1 = [[President of Nigeria|President]] [[Bola Tinubu]]
| commander1_label = [[President of Nigeria|Commander-in-Chief]]
Line 61 ⟶ 56:
| identification_symbol_3 = [[File:Air Force Ensign of Nigeria.svg|160px]]
| identification_symbol_3_label = [[Royal Air Force Ensign#Related ensigns|Flag]]
<!-- Aircraft -->| aircraft_attack =
| aircraft_bomber =
| aircraft_electronic =
Line 70 ⟶ 65:
| aircraft_patrol =
| aircraft_recon =
| aircraft_trainer = [[Alpha Jet]], [[Aermacchi MB-339|MB 339A]], [[Aero L-39 Albatros|
| aircraft_transport = [[Aeritalia G.222]], [[Dassault Falcon 7X]], [[Gulfstream G550]], [[Boeing 737|737 BBJ]]
}}
The '''Nigerian Air Force''' ('''NAF''') is the air branch of the [[Nigerian Armed Forces]]. It is the youngest branch of the [[Nigerian Armed Forces]],established 4 years after the nation became independent. As at 2021, the air force is one of the largest in [[Africa]], consisting of over 18,000 personnel.<ref>IISS Military Balance 2009, p.314</ref> Some of its popular aircraft include the [[Chengdu F-7]]s, [[Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet]]s, [[JF-17]] Thunder Block II, [[TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK|T129 Atak]], [[AgustaWestland AW109|Agusta Westland 109]], [[Eurocopter EC135]] and [[Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano]] aircraft.
==History==
Although an Air Force was originally proposed in 1958, many lawmakers preferred to rely on the United Kingdom for air defense.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}} But during [[peacekeeping operation]]s in [[the Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]] and [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|Tanganyika]], the [[Nigerian Army]] had no [[air transport]] of its own, and so in 1962, the government began to recruit cadets for pilot training in various foreign countries, with the first ten being taught by the [[Egyptian Air Force]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigerian Air Force |url=http://airforce.mil.ng/ |access-date=7 July 2024
===1960s===
Line 85 ⟶ 80:
The head of the German Air Force Assistance Group (GAFAG) was Colonel [[Gerhard Kahtz]], and he became the first commander of the NAF. The nucleus of the NAF was thus established with the formation of the Nigerian Air Force headquarters at the Ministry of Defense.
The NAF did not acquire combat capability until several [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17]] aircraft were presented by the Soviet Union in support of
===1970s===
Line 95 ⟶ 90:
===1980s===
From 1984, 18 [[SEPECAT Jaguar]] fighters (13 Jaguar SNs & 5 Jaguar BNs) were delivered and operated from Makurdi. They retired in 1991. Nigeria purchased 24 [[Aero L-39 Albatros]] armed jet trainers in
===2000s===
In 2005, under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian Parliament appropriated US$251 million to purchase 15 [[Chengdu J-7|Chengdu F-7]] fighter aircraft from China. The deal included 12 [[List of Chengdu J-7 variants|F-7NI]] (NI-Nigeria) single-seat fighter variant, and 3 FT-7NI dual-seat trainer aircraft. The $251 million package included $220 million for 15 aircraft, plus $32 million for armaments: live PL-9C AAM, training PL-9 rounds, unguided rockets, and 250/500 kg bombs. The pioneer NAF pilots on the aircraft trained in China in 2008, while delivery of the aircraft began in 2009. (Nigeria had previously considered a $160 million deal to refurbish its fleet of [[MiG-21]]s by Aerostar/Elbit Systems, IAI, and RSK MiG). However, it was considered more cost-effective to opt for acquiring the F-7s which were brand new. Nigeria also caused a modification of its variant of the F7, including installing some western equipment and avionics and hence its official designation as
From September 2009, Nigeria began refurbishing some of its [[C-130]] aircraft beginning with the NAF 917 which it brought back to life with the support of U.S. Air Forces Africa and 118th Airlift Wing. The NAF has subsequently further improved its domestic capacity with the increase in the serviceability of a good number of its transport aircraft.
Line 107 ⟶ 102:
On 24 March 2011, the new Air Officer Commanding of NAF Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal John Aprekuma, explained the rationale behind the establishment of the headquarters of the newly established Air Force Mobility Command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State as being part of the Federal Government's strategy to protect its socio-economic interest in the Niger Delta, affirming that the presence of the command's headquarters would bring about security and calm to the people of the State.
On 9 December 2011, the Nigerian Air Force commissioned its first female pilot, [[Blessing Liman]], following a directive to the NAF hierarchy by former President Goodluck Jonathan, for the service to start offering flying opportunities to qualified Nigerian female citizens, especially since women had long been flying civil aviation aircraft in the country but did not get a chance to fly in the military.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet NAF's first female pilot – Even as a child I've always wanted to fly' – Daily Trust |url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/meet-nafs-first-female-pilot-even-as-a-child-ive-always-wanted-to-fly.html |access-date=26 September 2023 |date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610093539/https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/meet-nafs-first-female-pilot-even-as-a-child-ive-always-wanted-to-fly.html |archive-date=
In March 2014, the Nigerian Government approached Pakistan for the purchase of joint Chinese-Pakistani made [[CAC/PAC JF-17]] "Thunder" multi-role fighter aircraft. In December 2015, the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari presented a budget to the National Assembly that included N5bn for three JF-17 aircraft. On
In December 2017, NAF formally announced that the United States of America had agreed to sell the [[Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano|A-29 Super Tucano]] attack aircraft to Nigeria after the deal had previously stalled. The success of this transaction is credited to the persistent negotiation and diplomatic skills of the Buhari administration.
Line 115 ⟶ 110:
In November 2018, Sierra Nevada was officially awarded the contract for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft for the NAF, with an estimated completion date by 2024.
On 2 January 2019, one [[List of Mil Mi-24 variants|Mi-35M]] attack helicopter from the Nigerian Air Force helicopter squadron crashed in Damasak, Borno State while providing close-air support for troops of the 145 Battalion combating Boko Haram insurgents, killing all
On 15 October 2019, the NAF winged its first female combat fighter jet pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kafayat Sanni, and its first female combat helicopter pilot Lieutenant [[Tolulope Arotile]]. They were amongst thirteen other pilots also winged on the same day.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aluko |first1=Olaleye |title=Why I decided to become Nigeria's first female fighter jet pilot — Sanni |url=https://punchng.com/why-i-decided-to-become-nigerias-first-female-fighter-jet-pilot-sanni/ |website=Punch Newspapers |access-date=26 September 2023 |date=19 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NAF wings first female combat pilot officer, 5 others - Daily Trust |url=https://dailytrust.com/naf-wings-first-female-combat-pilot-officer-5-others/ |website=dailytrust.com |date=29 September 2020 |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref>
Line 122 ⟶ 117:
== Structure ==
The Air Force includes a service headquarters, 6 principal staff branches, 4 direct reporting units, and 4 operational commands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airforce.mil.ng/structure |title=About NAF | Structure |publisher=airforce.mil.ng |access-date=
The [[Chief of the Air Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of the Air Staff]] (CAS) is the principal or lead adviser to the President and also the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Defense Staff, on air-related defense matters. The Nigerian Air Force headquarters is responsible for establishing long and short-term mission objectives and articulating policies, carrying out plans and procedures for the attainment of peace and stability. Also, HQ Nigerian Air Force liaises with the [[Nigerian Army]] and [[Nigerian Navy]] on joint operational policies and plans. The headquarters Nigerian Air Force consists of the office of the [[Chief of the Air Staff (Nigeria)|Chief of the Air Staff]] and 8 staff or branches namely; Policy and Plans Branch, Operations Branch, Air Engineering Branch, Logistics Branch, Administration Branch, Accounts and Budget Branch, Inspections Branch and Air Secretary Branch respectively. Each of these branches is headed by an [[Air Vice Marshal]] as branch chief.
Line 128 ⟶ 123:
Nigerian Air Force Tactical Air Command (TAC), with its headquarters situated at [[Makurdi]], is responsible for interpreting, implementing and controlling Nigerian Air Force operational plans.
*33 Logistics Group (33 LOG), Makurdi<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ikenwa |first=Chizoba |date=
*35 Base Service Group (35 BSG), Makurdi
*45 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Makurdi
Line 146 ⟶ 141:
=== Detachments, Wings, and Forward Operational Bases ===
*[[Ibadan]] Forward Operating Base
*[[Sokoto]] Forward Operating Base
*203 Medium Airlift Group (203 MAG), Ilorin
*205 Rotary Wing (205 RW), Lagos
Line 157 ⟶ 152:
*61 Nigerian Air Force Detachment, Warri
Nigerian Air Force Training Command, located at [[Old Kaduna Airport]], is chiefly responsible for the training of recruits, ground support crew, and technicians.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.suncatchersproject.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604053555/http://www.nigerianairforce.net/nafstructure/TC.aspx |url-status=dead |title=Home Appliances World|archive-date=
*301 Flying Training School, Kaduna
Line 184 ⟶ 179:
=== Special Operations ===
Nigerian Air Force Special Operations Command (SOC), headquartered at [[Bauchi]], [[Bauchi State]].<ref>{{Citation|title=Documentary: "Nigerian Air Force Regiment and Special Forces"| date=3 May 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gosthl6HKNo|language=en|access-date=
*201 Composite Group, [[Bauchi]], [[Bauchi State]]
Line 230 ⟶ 225:
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan=7 | [[Military
|-
| [[Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet|Alpha Jet]]
| [[France
|
| A/E
|
|
|-
|
|
|fighter
|F-7
|11<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
| [[Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano|Embraer EMB 314]]
| [[Brazil]]
|attack
|A-29B
| 12<ref name="World Air Forces
|
|-
| [[CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder|JF-17 Thunder]]
| [[China]]
| multirole
| A/Block 2E
| 3<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Maritime patrol|Maritime Patrol]]
|-
| [[ATR 42]]
| [[France]]
||
| MPA
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;
|-
|[[Beechcraft Super King Air]]
|
|ISR
|350
|
|
|-
|[[Cessna CitationJet/M2|Cessna CitationJet]]
|[[United States]]
|ISR / maritime patrol
|CJ3
|1<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
| [[Diamond
| [[Austria]]
| ISR
| DA42 MPP
|
|
|-
|[[Diamond DA62]]
|[[Austria]]
|ISR
|DA62 MPP
|4<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;"
|-
|[[Dornier Do 28]]
| [[Germany]]
| utility
|Dornier 128
|11<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
|[[
|[[Germany]]
|
|
|7<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
|[[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|Lockheed C-130]]
|[[United States
|
|C-130H
|2<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;" | [[Helicopter]]
|-
| [[AgustaWestland AW109]]
| [[Italy]]
| utility
|A109E/LUH
|15<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
| [[
| [[Italy]]
| VIP
|
|1<ref name="World Air Forces
|
|-
| [[
| [[
|attack
|
|
|12 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|-
| [[
| [[
| utility
| 412EP
| 2<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
|[[Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma|Eurocopter AS332]]
| [[France]]
| utility
|
|5<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
| [[Eurocopter EC135]]
| [[France]]
|utility
|H135
|
|
|-
|
| [[Russia]]
|
|
|6<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
|
|
|
|Mi-35
|15<ref name="World Air Forces
|18 on order<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|-
|
|[[Russia]]
|trainer
|
|
|
|-
| [[TAI/AgustaWestland
| [[Turkey]]
|attack
|
|2<ref name="ATAK">{{Cite web |last=Lake |first=Jon |date=2024-03-15 |title=Turkey delivers first T129 ATAK helicopters |url=https://www.timesaerospace.aero/features/defence/turkey-delivers-first-t129-atak-helicopters |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=timesaerospace.aero}}</ref>
|4 on order<ref name="ATAK"/>
|-
! colspan="7" style="align: center; background: lavender;"
|-
| [[Aero L-39 Albatros|Aero L-39]]
| [[Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovakia]]
| jet trainer
|
|10<ref name="World Air Forces
|
|-
| [[Aermacchi MB-339]]
| [[Italy]]
| jet trainer
| MB-339AN
| 6<ref name="World Air Forces
|
|-
|[[PAC MFI-17 Mushshak]]
|[[Pakistan]]
|basic trainer
|MFI-395
|10<ref name="World Air Forces 2024" />
|
|-
Line 505 ⟶ 416:
|[[CAIG Wing Loong II]]
|[[China]]
|UCAV
|
|5<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigerian Air Force discreetly receives 5 Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones |url=https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2023-news-aviation-aerospace/may/8995-nigerian-air-force-discreetly-receives-5-chinese-made-wing-loong-ii-drones.html |access-date=19 October 2023 |website=airrecognition.com}}</ref>
|3 on order<ref name="fourdiamond">{{Cite web |last=Lenkov |first=Alexey |date=7 October 2023 |title=Nigeria got all four DA62 MPPs versatile tracking mission aircraft |url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/10/07/nigeria-got-all-four-da62-mpps-versatile-tracking-mission-aircraft/ |access-date=21 October 2023 |website=BulgarianMilitary.com}}</ref>
|-
|[[Tsaigumi]]
|[[Nigeria]]
|UAV
|
|
|6 on order<ref name="IHS">{{cite news |last=Binnie |first=Jeremy |date=16 February 2018 |title=Nigerian Air Force to develop armed UAV |url=http://www.janes.com/article/77980/nigerian-air-force-to-develop-armed-uav?from_rss=1 |publisher=[[Jane's Information Group]]}}</ref>
|}
Line 548 ⟶ 445:
|PD-1
|[[Ukraine]]
|Believed to have entered service in late 2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Guy |date=
|-
|
|Tekever AR3
|Portugal<ref>{{Cite web |title=AR3 – TEKEVER |url=https://www.tekever.com/models/ar3/ |access-date=
|In service with the [[Nigerian Navy]] since 2021
|-
Line 563 ⟶ 460:
|ALTI Transition
|[[South Africa]]
|In service with the [[Nigeria Police Force|Nigerian Police]] since 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=ADF |date=17 July 2023
|-
|at least 3
Line 570 ⟶ 467:
|In service with the Nigerian Police for border protection since 2022<ref>https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/2022/11/nigerian-police-forces-use-tethered-uavs-for-border-protection/
{{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|
Line 590 ⟶ 487:
|-
|
|[[CASC Rainbow|CASC]] Rainbow CH-3A
|[[China]]
Line 600 ⟶ 496:
|since late 2021
|-
|2 <small>(according to Chinese state sources)</small><ref>{{Cite web |last=Olander |first=Eric |date=12 November 2020
|[[Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group|CAIG]] [[CAIG Wing Loong II|Wing Loong II]]
|China
Line 610 ⟶ 506:
|in service at least up from 2021
|-
|6<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=26 September 2022
|[[Baykar Bayraktar TB2|Bayraktar TB2]]
|[[Turkey]]
|2022<ref name=":1" />
|-
|minimum 10<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=10 May 2022
|Songar VTOL
|[[Turkey]]
Line 629 ⟶ 525:
On 26 September 1992, a NAF [[Lockheed C-130H Hercules]] serial number ''911'' crashed three minutes after take-off from [[Lagos]], [[Nigeria]], when three engines failed, possibly due to high take-off weight. All 158 people on board were killed, including eight foreign nationals.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19920926-1|title=Lockheed C-130H Hercules NAF911 Lagos}}</ref>
On 25 January 2015, a photo appeared online at Beegeagle's Blog, appearing to show a [[CASC Rainbow#CH-3|CASC Rainbow CH-3]] UCAV which crashed upside down near Dumge village in the Mafa District of [[Borno State]].
On 28 September 2018, a fatal air collision involving two [[Chengdu J-7|F-7]] aircraft occurred during a formation flying exercise involving an [[Aeritalia G.222]] and three [[Alpha Jets]] as they practiced flight maneuvers for the 58th [[Independence Day (Nigeria)|Independence Day]] celebrations in the capital, [[Abuja]]. As the F-7 jets turned to the formation flying, their wings clipped each other's side.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2018/09/two-nigerian-air-force-naf-f-7ni-fighter-jets-crash-during-independence-day-rehearsal|title=Two Nigerian Air Force (NAF) F-7Ni fighter jets crash during independence day rehearsal {{!}} African Military Blog|date=29 September 2018
On 31 March 2021, an [[Alpha Jet]] crashed near [[Borno State]] in North Eastern Nigeria, after it was conducting an [[air interdiction]] on Boko Haram. At about 5:08 p.m., the jet was reported to have stopped pinging on radar and presumed to have crashed. The wreckage was reported missing and found nineteen months later by Nigerian Army troops.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lionel|first=Ekene|date=1 April 2021|title=Nigerian air force alpha jet lost during counter terror operations|url=https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/04/nigerian-air-force-alpha-jet-lost-during-counter-terror-operations}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tarkaa |first1=David |title=Missing Aircraft: NAF Secretly Buries Flt Lt Chappelle |url=https://leadership.ng/missing-aircraft-naf-secretly-buries-flt-lt-chappelle/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |agency=Leadership Newspaper |issue=1 |publisher=David Tarkaa |date=12 October 2022}}</ref>
On 18 July 2021, while returning from an air interdiction mission in the North Western region of Nigeria along the Kaduna-Zamfara state boundaries, an [[Alpha Jet]] piloted by [[Flight Lieutenant]] Abayomi Dairo was shot down by "armed bandits" in [[Zamfara State]]. Flight Lieutenant Dairo successfully ejected from the plane, evaded capture and made his way to a Nigerian Armed Forces base in the area with minor injuries. He was given a "hero's return" by the Chief of Defense Staff and other top officers, Armed Forces of Nigeria, General Lucky Irabor, alongside other military top brass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/nigerian-fighter-jet-shot-down-140431602.html|title=Nigerian fighter jet shot down by criminals, pilot survives|website=news.yahoo.com|date=19 July 2019
On 14 July 2023, while on a routine training exercise in Markudi, [[Benue State]], a [[Chengdu F-7|Chengdu FT-7]] crashed at 4:15 pm [[West Africa Time|WAT]] local time. Both pilots ejected out of the jet and were rescued by the Air Force personnel assigned to search and rescue.<ref name="Document" >{{cite web |last1=Shiklam |first1=John |title=BREAKING: 2 NAF Pilots Cheat Death In Makurdi Crash |url=https://leadership.ng/breaking-2-naf-pilots-cheat-death-in-makurdi-crash/ |website=Leadership Newspaper |publisher=John Shiklam |access-date=14 July 2023 |location=Nigeria |page=1 |language=English |format=Document |date=14 July 2023}}</ref>
On 14 August 2023, a NAF [[Mil Mi-17|MI-171]] Helicopter, which was involved in on "casualty evacuation mission", encountered a crash at approximately 1:00 pm. The helicopter's initial point of departure was Zungeru Primary School, with its destination set for [[Kaduna State|Kaduna state]]. However, it was later determined that the helicopter had suffered a crash in the proximity of Chukuba Village, situated within the administrative jurisdiction of the Shiroro Local Government Area in [[Niger State]]. The number of passengers or crew members could not be ascertained.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Inyang |first=Ifreke |date=14 August 2023
One fatal "error" happened in December 2023, when the Nigerian forces [[Tudun Biri drone strike|accidentally hit a village]] with an armed UAV in [[Kaduna State|northwestern Nigeria]] killing 85 civilians<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Onuah |first1=Felix |last2=Muhammad |first2=Garba |date=6 December 2023
==Rank structure==
| |||