NAF places much emphasis on research, development to build indigenous technological capacity -- Bello

By Our Reporter

Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters, AVM Aliyu Bello, said NAF has placed much emphasis on research and development as a way of building indigenous technological capacity.

Bello disclosed this on Tuesday during the 2022 NAF Tactical Air Command (TAC) Intra-Command Research and Development Competition/Exhibition in Makurdi.

The chief of standard and evaluation further disclosed that it was in line with the above that NAF had established Air Force Research and Development Centre to encourage research into aerospace and armament needs of NAF. 

"The existing research and development cells in all NAF units are also  encouraged to intensify their research and development efforts.

"NAF has continued to nurture its relationships with selected Nigerian universities and research institutes with which it has since signed Memorandum of Understanding.

"All these are in consonance with the current Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, vision of enhancing and sustaining critical air power capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of national security," Bello said.

He further said that the competition and exhibition was aimed to showcase efforts of NAF units at promoting, enhancing and optimizing indigenous innovations and technologies for national development.

He stated that NAF was mindful of the fact that enhanced national development could only become a reality when there would be true harmony in the research and development efforts of all stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Air Officer Commanding TAC, AVM Abraham Adole, said that TAC as a teeth arm of NAF had the mandate of conducting offensive air operations.

"This mandate is achieved by ensuring that all aircraft, systems and equipment are serviceable and available at all times in line with a key vision of CAS which is the sustenance of platforms and equipment through innovative maintenance methods and logistics support systems.

"This is made possible by the research and development efforts of unity under the command and the efforts have also increased NAF's level of self reliance in spite of the highly technical and complex nature of aerospace technology.

"Therefore, it is imperative that NAF leverages on the gains of the research and development in order to keep pace with other Air Forces in the world," Adole said.

He enumerated the gains of NAF research and development over the years to include the design and fabrication of hydraulic accumulator diaphragm and tow bars for Mi-35.

He also said that the development included the development and testing of three variants of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles aimed at supporting CT-COIN operations all over the country.

"It is obvious that research and development has helped in improving the operational capacity of NAF," Adole said. 

Leader of the Accessors, Prof. Terfa Gundu, commended the participants for their innovations which were helping NAF to tackle insecurity. 

The 141 unit took first position, 115 unit came second while 301 unit came third during the competition/exhibition.