Airpower has played a significant role in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations, particularly in the northeastern part of the country.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been instrumental in providing air support to ground troops, conducting reconnaissance missions, and carrying out airstrikes against terrorist targets.
The NAF has also invested in acquiring new platforms, such as the T-129 ATAK helicopters, which have enhanced its operational capabilities. These helicopters have multirole capabilities and are durable with cost-efficient maintenance protocols.
Airpower has been critical in supporting the fundamentals of counterinsurgency warfare, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
It has also enabled the Nigerian military to respond quickly to emerging threats and to conduct operations in remote and inaccessible areas.
The Air Component of the various operations had during the year under review, executed deadly and targeted air strikes on several terrorists’ enclaves and criminal hideouts killing several of them.
The most recent are the devastating airstrikes that destroyed gun trucks, neutralised several fighters and recovered over 20 abandoned motorcycles while pursuing wounded and fleeing terrorists in the Kukawa axis of Borno.
The Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olusola Akimboyewa, said that another of such operations led to the destruction of terrorists’ food depot at Jubillaram in the Tumbuns area of Lake Chad Basin in November.
He said the location served as a critical food storage site and a sanctuary for terrorist commanders and fighters, adding that intelligence had previously linked terrorists in the location to recent attacks, including the assault on troops in Kareto on Nov. 16.
However, airpower alone is not sufficient to win a counterinsurgency campaign. It must be integrated with ground operations and other elements of national power to achieve success.
The Nigerian military has recognised this and has been working to develop a more comprehensive approach to counterinsurgency operations.
However, there are key challenges and opportunities such as integrating airpower with ground operations hence the increasing need for the military to continue to work on integrated operations to achieve optimal results.
Also, addressing civilian casualties has always been a challenge that requires the military to take steps to minimise it and ensure that airpower is used in a responsible and discriminate manner.
There is also the need to develop a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy that integrates airpower with other elements of national power.
In the overall, airpower has played a significant role in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations, and its influence is likely to continue to grow in the future.
The NAF had a remarkable year in 2024, with significant aircraft acquisitions to boost its operational capabilities.
Some of its new acquisitions are 12 advanced aircraft, including two KA-360i aircraft, four DA-62 aircraft, four T-129 helicopters, and two AW-109 Trekker helicopters.
It is also expected that before the end of 2024, the NAF will take additional deliveries of two T-129 helicopters and one KA 360i aircraft.
According to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the NAF is set to receive 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters, 24 M-346FA aircraft, and three CASA – 295 aircraft, as well as 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters in the coming year.
Abubakar also disclosed that the service had increased its effort in fleet modernisation, aimed at enhancing its operational readiness and capabilities.
He recently disclosed that the NAF had acquired a total of 64 brand new aircraft in about three years, with plans to receive an additional 38 platforms in 2025.
The air chief said that a review of their key performance indicators shows that, between June 2023 and September 2024, the NAF conducted 8,665 missions in 9,928 sorties within 15,915 flying hours.
This, according to him, underscores the magnitude of the relentless efforts of our personnel in all theatres of operations including Operations Hadin Kai, Fansan Yamma, Delta Safe, Safe Haven, AWATSE, UDO KA and Whirl Stroke, commending all Air Component Commanders for their exceptional leadership and outstanding performance.
Abubakar said that NAF had gained significant mileage in the area of training during the year, stating that 405 airmen and 186 officers completed various foreign courses, seminars and trips, while 64 are currently on-going.
He added that 5,474 and 1,331 personnel had also completed and were undergoing various local training courses, respectively.
According to him, from January to November 2024, the service has trained 54 Pilots abroad and 43 Pilots locally, while 16 UAV operators were trained locally.
The CAS said the NAF also achieved a commendable milestone in the area of safety in 2024 by recording zero manned-aircraft accidents, a testament to the positive outcomes of its continued investment in safety.
There is no gainsaying that the airpower has provided impetus for the successful military operations in confronting the myriads of security challenges bedevilling our great nation Nigeria. (NANFeatures)
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