The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 131 Engineering Group has emerged winner of the Tactical Air Command Intra-Command Research and Development Competition for the year 2025.
Engineering group defeated 13 other units to claim the top position, with 191 Composite Group in second position and 141 Communication Information System coming third.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aim of the competition which took place on Tuesday in Makurdi was to develop indigenous technology for enhanced operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Air Force.
A three-man panel of independent assessors from Joseph Saawuan Tarkaa University Makurdi, led by Prof. Sabastine Bam, said the assessment followed certain criteria to pick the three best peojects.
Bam said that the assessors looked at the relevance of each project, innovations, economic importance and marketability, among other considerations.
NAF Chief of Transformation and Innovation AVM Adeniyi Amesinlola, who was the special guest of honour, said that the Nigerian Air Force has produced commendable research, milestone achievements and progress in various commands over the years.
Amesinlola, who was represented by NAF Director of Communication, AVM David Pwajok, said the importance of the competition cannot be overemphasised.
“In the past, the Nigerian Air Force was able through its Research and Development efforts, fabricate hydraulic accumulator diaphragm as well as tow bars for the Mi-35 aircraft used by the Nigerian Air Force in counter insurgency operations in the northeast.
“The Nigerian Air Force also made efforts to manufacture unmanned aircraft locally in support of the ongoing counter insurgency operations.
“Similarly, the Defence Headquarters entered into an agreement with the Project Development Agency in Enugu for the production of rocket launchers for aircraft.
“The Defence Headquarters, also in collaboration with the University of Lagos, designed a hovercraft that could be used for operations in the Niger Delta Region.
“The foregoing research and development efforts and optimism for more exude the theme of this year’s competition, which is “Optimising Civil-Military Cooperation in Research and Development for Enhanced Air Operations,” he said.
He stated that the military, particularly NAF, was more involved in effectively applying air power in joint and inter-agency counter-insurgency operations which rely so much on technological advancement engendered by research and development.
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command, AVM Elijah Ebiowe, stated that as a technology-driven service, innovation plays a key role in the effective employment of air power.
Ebiowe said that the ability to innovate through has helped the NAF to enhance its fleet serviceability by reducing aircraft downtime occasioned by delays in procurement of spares and other equipment for aircraft operations.
The AOC said that in the military industry, research and development involves the continuous development and upgrading of prototypes of new military systems without necessarily going into full-scale development or production.
“In keeping pace with technological advancement, many countries have embarked on extensive and effective in their militaries, of which the Nigerian Air Force is not left out.
“The aim of the Nigerian Air Force and the purpose of organising this competition are therefore encapsulated in the fourth key enabler of the Chief of the Air Staff’s Command (CAS) Philosophy.
“The CAS command philosophy is “Prioritising Research and Development, Leveraging Cutting-edge Technology, Strategic Partnerships and Lessons Learnt”.
“The strategy employed to actualise this key enabler by the CAS Command philosophy is to promote research and development in areas relevant to Nigerian Air Force operations nationwide.
“Consequently, this competition would be a catalyst to our effectiveness as a service in tackling the security challenges that confront us daily,” he said.
According to him, it is noteworthy that both the intra-command and inter-command research and development competitions are annual events in the Nigerian Air Force and have come to stay.
Benue Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Nick Oworo, lauded the NAF for organising the competition.
Oworo said that the NAF and Benue were thinking alike, as the state recently organised an inventors exhibition.
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