TheCable

Oladayo Amao, chief of air staff (CAS), says the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is expecting 20 fighter aircraft before the end of 2021.

Amao said this at the passing out parade (POP) of 1,031 recruits held at the military training centre, NAF base, in Kaduna, on Friday.

According to him, the aircraft consists of Super Tucano jets and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs).

He said the aircraft — comprising six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States of America and two wing loong UCAVs from China — are expected to arrive in July.

The air chief added that six more A-29 Super Tucano aircraft will arrive in September, while two CH-3 and four CH-4 UCAVs will arrive the country before the end of 2021.

“These additional aircraft, he said, would no doubt boost air power employment capabilities in support of joint operations, and would be a game-changer in various theatre of operations,” a statement by Edward Gabkwet, NAF spokesman, reads.

“While expressing the profound gratitude of the NAF to President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support to the NAF to meet its operational requirements and logistics needs, the CAS assured Nigerians that the NAF, in consonance with other members of the Armed Forces and security agencies, would continue to do all it takes to ensure that the security challenges in the country are speedily brought to an end.”

The presidency had, in March, disclosed that Nigeria will receive six Super Tucano aircraft from the United States in July.