NAF chief inaugurates warfare centre, says air power critical to military operations

Oladayo Amao, chief of air staff (CAS), says the recent successes recorded by the military show how critical air power is in meeting the security aspirations of Nigerians.

He said this on Tuesday while commissioning the new air warfare centre and inaugurating its first course on basic air power for young officers.

In a statement through Edward Gabkwet, spokesperson of the air force, Amao described air power as a force multiplier in all military operations.

The air chief said the opening of the warfare centre aligns with his vision for the Nigerian air force tailored towards, “enhancing and sustaining critical air power capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of national security imperatives.”

He said it also focuses on doctrinal development and application of air power in joint military operations as well as pursuit of purposeful training and human capacity development.

He said the centre must seek to support the airman across the spectrum of air warfare requirements; ranging from training and operational readiness, to doctrinal and tactics development.

Such support, he said, will enhance effectiveness by giving impetus to service-wide efforts that will translate existing materiel and human capacity into actual capabilities to fulfil air power tasks demanded by national defence and security imperatives.

He added that the centre will play a significant role in the efforts to apply the military instrument of power, so as to address the myriad of security challenges facing the nation.

The establishment of an air warfare centre was first conceived in 2013 to develop operational and tactical doctrines, as well as provide integrated mission support training for enhanced joint force employment.

The centre was, however, only established on paper since then.

On his part, Uwaoma Onyebachi, air vice marshal and pioneer commander of the centre, said numerous strategic sessions and background work was put in by the force for the programmes to be taught in the new warfare centre.

The air task force (ATF) component of the military operations across the north-east and north-west has continued to launch airstrikes on terrorists’ hideouts.

Most recently, the ATF conducted a raid on the home of Bello Turji, bandit kingpin, in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara, leaving many dead.