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Nigerian Air Force - Ten-Year Strategic Plan 2017-2026

The future will demand a technically capable and balanced air force that provides assured effect for defence, founded on the enduring key air power roles. The NAF Act 1964 tasked her to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria by air. This presupposes that in the event of war, the NAF would employ air power assets to deny adversaries freedom of operation in the air and provide support to surface forces. This may also entail pre-emptive air strikes against the adversaries, vital military installations or economic assets.

The NAF is active in the counter insurgency operations currently being conducted in the North East. Suffice to add that NAF’s efforts have been instrumental in degrading the capability of the insurgents to the level whereby their effectiveness is continually being diminished. Nevertheless, the NAF should continue with the present efforts and be prepared to counter possible future insurgency from any part of the country. The NAF could be called upon to conduct operations geared towards protecting critical infrastructure and national assets. It may also include protection of pipelines, dams, power lines, airports and other government installations. These may involve combat operations to free these assets from seizure by renegades. The NAF may be required to conduct operations in liaison with other agencies to protect Nigeria’s porous borders in order to mitigate cross border crimes such as drug trafficking, armed banditry as well as arms and human trafficking.

The NAF could be called upon to undertake roles in aid to civil power /authority (MACP and MACA) covering a wide range of activities. Some of the functions may include provision of assistance in the event of natural disasters/emergencies, conduct of psychological air operations, provision of medical services to displaced persons, air transportation of relief materials, VIP movements, transportation of vital materials. In the case of aid to civil power, the NAF may be involved in combating terrorism, militancy and suppressing communal clashes among others in support of the Nigeria police, Nigeria Security and Defence Corps (NSCDC) or other agencies.

The air power response for protecting maritime resources could be through airborne surveillance of the nation’s maritime environment as well as provision of intelligence to surface forces which could be conducted day and night. It would encompass operations against piracy and illegal oil bunkering where identified adversaries could be intercepted from the air. However, these activities could sometimes be far from shore and out of the combat radius of conventional shore based combat platforms. Hence, it will be necessary for the MPAs to possess anti-shipping capabilities. Additionally, favourable air situation could be provided for surface forces.

The NAF could be called upon to undertake roles in aid to civil power /authority (MACP and MACA) covering a wide range of activities. Some of the functions may include provision of assistance in the event of natural disasters/emergencies, conduct of psychological air operations, provision of medical services to displaced persons, air transportation of relief materials, VIP movements, transportation of vital materials. In the case of aid to civil power, the NAF may be involved in combating terrorism, militancy and suppressing communal clashes amongst others in support of the Nigeria police, Nigeria Security and Defence Corps (NSCDC) or other agencies.

The NAF Ten-Year Strategic Plan 2017-2026 presented a road map for the evaluation of NAF’s airpower capabilities in the next 10 years. The plan assesses the operating environment, while recognising the geo-political and geo-strategic environments as influenced by globalisation and internationalisation of security threats. The NAF requires 6,786 officers and 32,697 airmen/airwomen to conduct her activities up to 2026.

Calculations of operational platforms required is predicated on the experiences gained from campaigns such as ECOMOG Operation, Operations RESTORE HOPE, LAFIYA DOLE, DELTA SAFE and the Joint Task Force operations in the North East. Aircraft and aircrew availability, mission request, mission accomplishment, communications and ISR were also considered. Furthermore, where missions overlap, advantage of the flexibility of airpower was exploited.

The total platforms required by the NAF up to 2026 as detailed is derived from both the operational and training platforms. The table also determines the total platform deficiencies in the NAF. In deriving this, cognisance was taken of existing platforms in NAF inventory. Furthermore, it brought to fore, some platforms that are seemingly available but are inoperable. These platforms, indicated as unserviceable in the remark column would need to be reactivated where possible or decision taken towards their replacement.