Nigerian Air Force Strengthens Counter-Terrorism Efforts with 35 New Pilots and Advanced Aircraft
New Pilots Deployed for High-Stakes National Assignments The graduating cohort includes 10 Basic Transport Course and 25 Ab-initio Student Pilots, marking the largest pilot intake in recent years. Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar emphasized their pivotal role during the ceremony: “Your wings symbolize Nigeria’s trust. You are now guardians of our skies and defenders of our peace.” Advanced Aircraft Fleet: A Game-Changer for Modern Warfare The NAF’s operational capacity has surged with the acquisition of 12 new aircraft, including: King Air 360i (light transport) T-129 ATAK helicopters (attack) Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters (multirole) DA-62 surveillance planes (reconnaissance) Air Marshal Abubakar also announced upcoming deliveries of 24 M-346 fighter jets and 10 Agusta helicopters from Italy, further cementing NAF’s position as a tech-driven force. 401 FTS Kaduna: A Legacy of Excellence in Pilot Training With over 700 pilots trained since its inception, the 401 FTS has produced aviators for Nigeria, neighboring African nations, and […]