Nigerian Air Force

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Nigerian Air Force
Founded January 1964
Country Nigeria
Commanders
Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Paul Dike

The Nigerian Air Force is the air arm of the Nigerian military. It is one of the largest in West Africa, consisting of 100+ fighter aircraft including SEPECAT Jaguars, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s, and Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, and a handful of Russian made bombers and military transport aircraft. However in recent years many of them are no longer airworthy.

In 2005 it was reported that Nigeria has approved $251 million USD to purchase 15 Chengdu F-7 fighters from China. The deal includes 12 F-7NI (NI = Nigeria) single seat fighters, and 3 FT-7NI dual-seat trainers. [1] The $251 ($252?) million package includes $220 million for 15 aircraft, plus $32 million for armaments, including 20 live PL-9C AAM, 10 training PL-9 rounds, unguided rockets, and 250 kg bombs.

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, with the new F-7 purchase, the government of Nigeria has decided to scrap the refurbish option and grounded its fleet of MiG 21's.

Contents

[edit] History

Although the Air Force was originally proposed in 1958, many lawmakers preferred to rely on the United Kingdom for air defence. But during peacekeeping operations in Congo and Tanganyika, the Nigerian Army had no air transport of their own, and in so 1962 the government began to recruit cadets for pilot training in various foreign countries, with the first 10 learning from the Ethiopian Air Force.

The Nigerian Air Force was formally established in January 1964 with technical assistance from West Germany. The air force started life as a transport unit with aircrew being trained in Canada, Ethiopia and India.

The head of the West German Assistance Group was Colonel G Kahz, 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 Defence.

The air force did not get a combat capability until a number of MiG-17 aircraft were presented by the Soviet Union in 1966. Further soviet fighters and bombers were delivered during the Nigerian Civil War, although most were destroyed on the ground or written off. Many of the MiGs were flown by Egyptian pilots.

[edit] Chiefs of the Air Staff

The following have served as Chief of the Air Staff, the senior appointment in the Nigerian Air Force:[2]

Year Rank Name
1963 - 1965 Colonel Gerhard Kahtz
1965 - 1966 Colonel W Timming
1966 - 1967 Lieutenant Colonel George Tamunosyowunam Kurubo
1967 - 1969 Colonel Shittu A Alao
1969 - 1975 Brigadier Emmanuel E Ikwue
1975 - 1980 Air Vice-Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko
1980 - 1983 Air Vice-Marshal Abdullahi Dominic Bello
1983 - 1990 Air Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa
1990 - 1992 Air Vice-Marshal Nuraini Oladimeji Omotosho Yussuff
1992 - 1993 Air Marshal Akin Dada
1993 - 1996 Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi
1996 - 1999 Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok
1999 - 2001 Air Marshal Isaac Mohammed Alfa
2001 - 2006 Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep
2006 - Air Marshal Paul Dike

Rank shown are those held whilst the officer was commanding the GAF.

[edit] Rank Structure

The NAF's rank structure is similar RAF's rank structure from where its ranks were derived.

[edit] Officers

In descending order of importance the NAF officer ranks are:

[edit] Airmen

In descending order of importance the NAF airman ranks are:

[edit] Aircraft Inventory

[edit] References

  1. ^ Air Forces Monthly, December 2007 issue, p.22.

[edit] External links

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