- Nigerian Air Force
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Nigerian Air Force 
Nigerian Air Force logoFounded 18 April 1964 Country Nigeria Garrison/HQ Abuja (?) Commanders Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar Insignia Roundel 
Aircraft flown Attack Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet.Aero L-39 Albatros Fighter Chengdu F-7 Airguard Patrol ATR 42MP Trainer Alpha jet.MB 339A.L-39ZA Albatros Transport G222.SA 330H Puma.Lockheed C-130 Hercules The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is one of the largest in West Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft including 15 Chengdu F-7s, and 24 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, armed helicopters, and military transport aircraft. However in recent years many of them are no longer airworthy. Previous combat aircraft, including 32 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s, Sepecat Jaguars, and Russian made bombers have been withdrawn from use.
Contents
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 its own, and in so 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.
The Nigerian Air Force was formally established on 18 April 1964 with the passage of the Air Force Act 1964 by the Nigerian Parliament. The Act summarised the objectives of the NAF as follows:
- "The Nigerian Air Force shall be charged with the defence of the Federal Republic by air, and to give effect thereto, the personnel shall be trained in such duties as in the air as well as on the ground.[1]"
It started 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 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 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.
Nigeria purchased 24 Aero L-39ZA armed jet trainers in 1986-87 and tried to obtain 27 more in 1991 but the International Monetary Fund vetoed the purchase. It also prevented a 1994 purchase of 7 PC7's despite Swiss government approval.
From 1984 18 SEPECAT Jaguar (13 Jaguar SNs & 5 Jaguar BNs) were delivered and operated from Makurdi. They were retired in 1991.[1]
Other aircraft previously in service included the IL-28, L-29, and MIG-15.
Twenty-first century
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.[2] 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 250/500 kg bombs. Nigerian pilots began their training in China in 2008, with delivery of the aircraft to begin in 2009. [2]
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 suspend the refurbishment option and grounded its fleet of MiG 21's.
In September 2009 it was reported that U.S. Air Forces Africa and 118th Airlift Wing personnel had managed to make one of the Air Force's C-130s flyable again, and that it would be dispatched to Germany for further repairs.[3]
On March 22, 2011, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas told The Associated Press that the Chinese-made F7 fighter crashed near Kano's airport. Anas said the pilot died in the crash and no other details were provided.
Organisation
The Air Force comprises a headquarters, which houses the Chief of Air Staff and five Air Officers, each an Air Vice Marshal, three commands, and four direct reporting units. The four commands are Tactical Air Command at Makurdi, Mobility Command at Yenegoa, Bayelsa, Training Command at Kaduna, and Logistics Command.
Tactical Air Command appears to direct all flying operations. The Command consists of groups, wings, and squadrons patterned after their Royal Air Force equivalents. As of 2008, the groups include 33 Logistics Group (Log Gp), 35 Base Services Group (BSG), 45 NAF Hospital (NAFH) and 64 Air Defence Group (ADG) all in Makurdi/Makurdi Airport. 64 ADG also includes 204 Wing at Maiduguri. Other units are 75 Strike Group (STG) Yola, 81 Air Maritime Group (AMG) Benin, and 88 Military Airlift Group (MAG) and the National Air Defence Corps (NADC) both at Ikeja. Others are the 99 Air Weapons School (AWS), Kainji and the 97 Special Operations Group (SOG) at Port Harcourt (which flies the Mi-24s). The Command also includes 227 Wing at Ilorin.
Chiefs of the Air Staff, Nigeria Air Force
The following have served as Chief of the Air Staff, the senior appointment in the Nigerian Air Force:[3]
Year Rank Name 1963–1965 Colonel Gerhard Kahtz 1965–1966 Colonel W Timming 1966–1967 Lieutenant Colonel George T Kurubo 1967–1969 Colonel Shittu 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 Yussuff 1992–1993 Air Marshal Akin Dada 1993–1996 Air Vice Marshal Femi John Femi 1996–1998 Air Marshal Nsikak-Abasi Essien Eduok 1999–2001 Air Marshal Isaac Alfa 2001–2006 Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep 2006–2008 Air Marshal Paul Dike 2008–2010 Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin 2010 - Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar Rank structure
The NAF's rank structure is similar to the British Royal Air Force's rank structure from where its ranks were derived.
Officers
In descending order of importance the NAF officer ranks are:
- Marshal of the Air Force
- Air Chief Marshal
- Air Marshal
- Air Vice Marshal
- Air Commodore
- Group Captain
- Wing Commander
- Squadron Leader
- Flight Lieutenant
- Flying Officer
- Pilot Officer
Airmen
In descending order of importance the NAF airman ranks are:
- Air Warrant Officer
- Master Warrant Officer
- Warrant Officer
- Flight Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Lance Corporal
- Aircraftman
Current air force equipment
A Nigerian Air Force Chengdu F-7 taking off
A Nigerian Air Force Boeing 737-7N6
A Nigerian Air Force British Aerospace BAe-125-800B
A Nigerian Air Force Mil Mi-24Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes Chengdu F-7 Airguard 
ChinaMulti role fighter 15 12 F-7NI, 3 FT-7NI Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet 
FranceTrainer/ light attack 6 24 delivered, 4 upgraded 2011 Aermacchi MB-339 
ItalyTrainer/ light attack 12 All 12 are currently being upgraded by Alenia Aermacchi Van's Aircraft RV-6 
USABasic trainer 60 Aero L-39 Albatros 
CzechJet trainer 24 Scottish Aviation Bulldog T1 
United KingdomLight trainer 37 Dornier Do 27 
GermanyLight transport 20 ? Dornier Do 28 GermanyLight transport 36 ? Alenia G.222 ItalyMedium transport 5 being refurbished by Alenia ATR 42MP 
European UnionMaritime transport 2 NAF 930 & NAF 931 are both replacing 2 x Fokker F27 200-MAR Boeing 737 USAVIP Transport 1 BAe 125 United KingdomMedium transport 1 ? Dassault Falcon 900 FranceLight transport 2 Dornier Do 228 GermanyLight utility transport 6 Gulfstream II USALight transport 1 Gulfstream IV USALight transport 1 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules USAHeavy transport 6 1 upgraded 2009 Agusta A 109 ItalyLight utility transport 7 Is used by the navy Agusta AW-139 ItalyVIP helicopter 1 Hughes 300 USALight utility helicopter 14 ? MBB Bo 105 GermanyLight attack/trainer helicopter 24 ? Mil Mi-35 Hind 
RussiaHeavy attack helicopter 6 Mil Mi-34 Hermit RussiaLight utility helicopter 9 Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma FranceMedium transport helicopter 11 ? Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma FranceMedium transport helicopter 12 ? Mil Mi-8 Hip RussiaMedium transport helicopter 4 References
- Michael I. Draper and Frederick Forsyth, Shadows: Airlift and Airwar in Biafra and Nigeria 1967-1970 (Howell Press, 2000) ISBN 1-902109-63-5
- World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 338 Sheet 01
External links
- http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2008/04/08ABUJA585.html - proposed sale of three C-130s to Senegal
- Air Force Military School, Jos
- Nigerian Air Force
- RV-6 as a military trainer
Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Nigerian Air Force
- Military units and formations established in 1964
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