Insurgency: NAF Expresses Concern Over Non-Delivery Of Attack Jet

Delay in the delivery of the 29-Super Tucano attack ordered from the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) of the United States, is giving the rank and file of the Airforce grave concern.

The light attack aircraft with its long range, precision munitions as well as day and night capability, is considered a big boost to the force’s counterinsurgency operations in the North-East, but the manufacturers are yet to deliver the aircraft.

The Eagle reporter learnt that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had to make passionate plea to the manufacturers to expedite action to enable the force realise its strategy objectives.

This was when Mr Taco Gilbert, the Senior Vice – President of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), manufacturer of the aircraft, visited the CAS in Abuja.

A statement by the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, quoted Abubakar as saying this would enhance Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) operational capability for the swift conclusion of the counterinsurgency operations in the North- east.

For him, the operations of the counterinsurgency team would become more efficient with the delivery of at least, two of such aircraft.

While responding, Gilbert assured of his company’s determination to deliver quality aircraft capable of providing the needed support for the for NAF air operations, adding: “the company looks forward to continued collaboration with NAF towards building a new air capability to address the security challenges in the country”.

He said beyond supply of aircraft, that his company would also provide adequate training for NAF’s air and ground crew so that maintenance work on the aircraft would be first rate.