Super Tucano aircraft critical to victories against terrorists, says air chief

Oladayo Amao, chief of air staff, says the military has “greatly decimated” insurgents and other criminal elements terrorising the country.

Amao said the feat was achieved through the deployment of modern platforms provided to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and sister agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Edward Gabkwet, NAF director of public relations, quoted Amao as saying the security agencies have effectively operationalised the new weapons and platforms on the battlefield.

Amao spoke on Thursday during an operational tour of 205 combat search and rescue group in Kerang, Plateau state.

“No doubt that some of the new platforms in NAF’s Order of Battle, particularly the JF-17 Thunder aircraft, the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are the reasons behind our success,” he said.

He added that more is needed to be done to completely decimate and flush out the remnants of terrorists still preying on soft targets.

Amao further warned troops against complacency, saying doing so would be harmful to ongoing operations.

He informed the troops that the airforce is expecting the delivery of additional weapons approved by the president.

“These platforms include 2 CASA-295 medium airlift aircraft, 2 Beechcraft King Air 360, 4 Diamond DA-62 surveillance aircraft, 3 Wing Loong II UCAVs and 6 T-129 ATAK helicopters,” he said.

“Others are 2 Agusta 109 Trekker multi-role helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and 24 M-346 attack aircraft to boost NAF’s air power employment and projection capabilities as well as air combat training.

“A few of these additional platforms are expected to be delivered to NAF before the end of the first quarter of 2023.”

On the forthcoming elections, Amao said while exercising their constitutional right to vote for any candidate of their choice, personnel must desist from engaging in active political activities.

“You must continue to maintain our integrity and neutrality as a service,” he said.

“You must also remember that as custodians of Nigeria’s constitution, you must ensure that the public’s perception of NAF and the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains positive and unblemished.”