Nigerian Armed Forces

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Nigerian army gets South Korean K152 APCs


Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud Nigeria is a very dynamic designer and manufacturer of armored vehicles, be it light, medium-weight or heavy APCs. Why did its army import South Korean K152 APCs appears puzzling, at first glance at least.

Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news

South Korean-made K152 APC in Nigerian army service (Picture source: Army Recognition)

No detail is known about the origin of Nigerian army's K152s, nor their number in service. Only the hereabove picture raises the question. This K152 seems to be a brand new one, as a kind of shipment document is still sticked on the windscreen.

The K152 APC has been developed jointly by the South Korean Army and KIA, a well-known manufacturer of civilian and military vehicles. The K152 is the armored version of the wheeled KLTV (KIA Light Tactical Vehicle) designed and manufactured by Kia Motors Corporation. The KLTV was unveiled in February 2015 at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference IDEX in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The serial production of the vehicle began in 2016.

 

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Nigeria has joined China & UAE as the only countries operating the WingLoong II Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle

From;
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola
@KunleDaramola3


The 2 x NigAirForce WingLoong II, which can remain airborne for 31 hrs in ISR mode & 26hrs in offensive role, will add significant value to COIN & anti-banditry Ops

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In the last 5 years, 22 brand new aircraft have been acquired & 19 more are expected before mid 2021. Six other UCAVs are also expected by early 2021. @CAS_AMSadique thanks the C-in-C, @MBuhari, for the priority attention given to @NigAirForce to ensure a more secured Nation.

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Close to 200 @NigAirForce pilots, engrs & techs are undergoing training in 9 different countries as part of efforts to bridge decades ofgaps in capability & capacity that have made Nigeria vulnerable to asymmetrical threats

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hese additional new air assets & skills acquired by personnel will greatly enhance @NigAirForce’s operational effectiveness which will translate into security for Nigeria & Nigerians

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Super Tucanos for Nigerian Air Force on track

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On 9 November 2020, the Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, stated that six Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29B Super Tucano aircraft will soon be delivered to Nigeria from the United States.

At this moment Scramble Magazine is not aware of any shipments from Sierra Nevada/Embraer's Jacksonville (FL) production facility plant to Nigeria, but assesses that it might well be possible. Earlier it was stated that first deliveries to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were scheduled for 2021.

On 16 April 2020, the first A-29B Super Tucano destined for the Nigerian Air Force took the skies for its inaugural flight.

The Super Tucano Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft are part of a dozen sold to Nigeria by the US to aid combat actions and air assaults to fight insurgency.
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Nigerian Super Tucanos will be based at Kainji Air Base. With help from the US, the NAF started at Kainji with upgrades and renovation work last August and include a new airfield hot cargo pad, perimeter and security fencing, munitions assembly and storage, small arms storage, a flight annex wing building for simulator training, airfield lighting, and various airfield apron, parking, hangar, and entry control point improvements. Kainji Air Base is located near the city of New Bussa, is named after the Kainji Lake which is situated nearby.

On 6 October 2020, NAF Air Vice Marshall Sule Lawal, the Nigerian A-29 programme lead foreign liaison officer, and other NAF officials visited Moody AFB (GA). At Moody, the 81st Fighter Squadron conducts combat training for NAF pilots and maintainers for the Super Tucano. NAF representatives were able take a close look at the state of affairs as well to discuss the future of the programme and meet with NAF students.

At this moment Scramble Magazine is aware of only two NAF Foreign Military Sales A-29B serials: 19-2033 and 19-2034.

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Nigerian Air Force PDM improvements

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On 3 November 2020, the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar visited Kainji Air Base to inspect the progress on the in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of two Alpha Jets. He was pleased to see the progress on both aircraft and the fact that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) maintenance personnel is actively involved and trained to enable them to carry out this type of maintenance activities entirely on their own.

The Chief of Air Staf highlighted that the NAF had similarly conducted successful PDM on two Lockheed C-130H aircraft in Lagos and was on the verge of commencing the in-country PDM on a third C-130H aircraft. In the same vein, Life Extension Programmes (LEPs) has been carried out on three L-39ZAs in Kano and the air force would soon commence in-country LEP on another batch of three L-39ZAs. Similar major maintenance activities had commenced on the F-7 fighter jets in Makurdi.

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At this moment sixteen Chinese personnel are in Makurdi, working to reactivate two F-7Ni aircraft. Expecting to arrive in the near future are eighteen personnel from the Czech Republic to work with NAF personnel in the reactivation of L-39ZA. At this moment, the NAF is still too dependent on personnel from China and the Czech Republic. However, the aim is to be able to carry out these types of maintenance almost completely independently. Presumably this was also the idea when the aircraft were initially purchased.

In the last five years, Nigeria inducted 22 new aircraft in service. In the near future seventeen more aircraft are expected to be delivered, including twelve A-29B Super Tucanos to be based Kainji air base. Most of the infrastructure required to accommodate the new type would be ready by early December 2020 well ahead of the expected delivery of six A-29Bs the by the second quarter of 2021.

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Nigerian Army inducts 8 locally made combat vehicles​


Army Recognition Global Defense and Security news


Variant of the Ezugwu MRAP designed and produced by DICON/NAVMC

The Nigerian Army has inducted eight units of locally made combat vehicles Mine–Resistant, Ambush–Protected (MRAP), also called `EZUGWU’’ into Operations Lafiya Dole and Sahel Sanity.

The Chief of Army Staff, who made this known at the inauguration of the vehicles in Kaduna, said the equipment has aided military operations against bandits and Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the North East.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vehicles, which are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes, were manufactured by the Command Engineering Depot, Kaduna.

Buratai, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, the Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), also inaugurated the Smart Factory (SF) also called Additive Manufacturing Technology, Vehicles Assembly shop and Officers/Soldiers accommodation at Command Engineering depot (CED).

“The vehicles have significantly improved our capability to defeat our common adversary, Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province,’’ he said.

The army chief said that the induction of the vehicles was a “clear testament to the unprecedented commitment of the Nigerian Army to building industrial capacity of the CED to undertake in-depth Research, Development and Innovation (RDI).’’

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“Today, one of the greatest challenges facing the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies is an outright reliance on importation of defence logistics from allies.

“Accordingly, President Muhammadu Buhari posits that Nigeria dependence on other countries for critical military equipment is unacceptable, the country must evolve viable mechanism for near self-sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production,’’ he said.

Burata said that the president charge, therefore, made the Nigeria Army to initiate collaboration among CED, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and Buffalo Engineering Technical Services Ltd., to produce the local MRAPs.

He said that additional defence logistic requirements produced through the collaboration include “Light Armoured Tactical Vehicle, Special Patrol Vehicle, Mobile Field Bakery and Mobile Borehole Drilling Machine among others.’’

Nigeria Inducts Locally Built Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles

Nigerian army combat vehicles

“Succinctly, these platforms are aiding the Nigerian Army to perform its constitutional roles across all spectra of warfare such as the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North East and other operations.’’

Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Araoye, the Commander Engineering Depot, said the induction of the vehicles was clear manifestation of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing industrial base in the country.

Araoye said that uncommon approach was adopted in fabricating the hardware for the armed forces and other security agencies in the country.


 

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Nigerian airspace left unguarded​


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With almost all of Nigeria’s frontline air defence fighter jets now in China, the country’s airspace is now literally unguarded.

Recently, seven out of the remaining nine F-7 Chengdu AirGuard fighter jets in the Nigerian Air Force was deployed to China for deep maintenance says the Chief of Air staff, Sadique Abubakar.

The two remaining aircraft left in Nigeria are also undergoing extensive rehabilitation program to extend their service life.

Nigeria only have nine F-7 AirGuard fighter jets, though the country acquired fifteen units in 2009.

Several of the aircraft have suffered attrition due to various factors most especially accidents.

With all the fleet now undergoing maintenance, Nigeria’s airspace is now protected by a few obsolete Roland air defence missile system.

The Roland air defence missile system is thoroughly outdated and is irrelevant in today’s modern battlefield conditions.

Nigeria also possess some Russia-made man portable air defence missile system like the Strela, and a handful of Air defense guns.

Nigeria’s other aircraft fleet is the Dassault Dornier Alpha jets which are not capable of Air defense missions as they lack even basic radar and missiles.

Thus, as the F-7s are unavailable, Nigeria will rely on the new jf-17 Thunder aircraft soon to be delivered by Pakistan.

Although, Nigeria is not faced with any credible aerial threat at the moment, as the neighbors don’t have the capacity to mount an aerial offensive against Nigeria.

 

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Nigerian Air Force receives second Mi-171E helicopter​


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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on 2 December received a second Mi-171E helicopter from Serbia, to boost its counter-terrorism fight in the Northeastern region.

The new Mi-171E helicopter with registration 582 arrived at NAF Base Makurdi aboard an Ilyushin Il-76TD RA-76502 operated by Russian private charter carrier Aviacon Zitotrans, and according to open source flight tracking data, the Il-76TD flew from Kazan, Russia the facility producing the Mi-17 helicopters.

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Newly acquired Mi-171E
Upon arriving Nigeria, the helicopter was received by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal Olusegun Philip, on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

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The Mi-171E arrived in knocked-down form, with several of its parts in crates, and a combined team of NAF personnel and technical support staff from the equipment vendor were also on hand to assist in offloading the new aircraft, some parts of which came in crates. In addition, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service were present to ensure necessary documentation.

“The new aircraft will undoubtedly boost NAF’s contributions in the fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other criminal activities in the country. The newly-received aircraft will now be assembled in Makurdi by a team from the equipment vendor, assisted by NAF technicians, prior to test-flying and formal induction into the NAF.”

“The new aircraft is the second of two Mi-171E helicopters procured by the current Federal Government Administration and brings to 23 the total number of brand new aircraft acquired since 2015,” the NAF said.

Earlier this year, the Nigerian Air Force took delivery of the first Mi-171E with registration 581, which was later inducted into service on 6 February with President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance.

 
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Such a disgraceful army. Army even denies that boko haram killed 100+ civilians in a village.

Seriously the nigerian army needs to be reformed a lot of the incompetent commanders need to go. It starts from the top.

Such a disgrace how Boko haram commits so many massacres while the NA denies such thing has happened.
 

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Hackers leaks data of Nigeria’s A-29 Super Tucano​


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Hackers have gained access and leaked some of Brazilian company Embraer private files after the company refused to negotiate and pay ransom demands.

Embraer instead chose to restore it’s systems from backups thus, the hackers stole and leaked data from the company’s servers.
The airplane maker confirmed the breach in a press release, informing “its shareholders and the market that its IT systems suffered a cyberattack, resulting in the disclosure of data allegedly attributed to the Company in the early hours of November 30, 2020.”

Data stolen from the site includeS samples of employee details, business contracts, photos of flight simulations, and source code, among others.

A 4.4mb worth of data of Nigeria’s A-29 Program was also stolen, which according to ZDNet were shared on the dark web by RansomExx (also known as Defray777), a ransomware gang.

As a result of the intrusion, Embraer immediately “initiated its procedures of investigation and resolution of the event,” the company said. The compromised system was later isolated to protect the systems environment, thus causing temporary impact on some of its operations the airplane maker stated.

Brazilian company Embraer, is considered today’s third-largest airplane maker after Boeing and Airbus, the company is set to deliver 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force by next year.

 

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Nigerian anti-terrorism operation marks combat debut of Chinese VT4 tank

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Chinese-made most advanced main battle tank made its combat debut in Nigerian anti-terrorism operation during a clash with Boko Haram militants in the northeast of the country

The Nigerian government has announced that it launches a large-scale military operation against Boko Haram militants, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” in the local Hausa language, and deployed new combat vehicles, including new Norinco VT4 main battle tanks in the northeast.

The Nigeria Army chief showed an image of tanks during a new offensive against Boko Haram militants, which called the “Operation Tura Takai Bango”.


The VT4 is a third-generation main battle tank with a 125mm smoothbore gun and carousel automatic loading system developed by the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). For close support and anti-personnel fire, the VT4 carries a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and what is most likely the Type 88 12.7 mm machine gun, which is cupola-mounted for the commander’s use.

The first batch of VT4 tanks has arrived in Nigeria in April 2020.

The Boko Haram insurgency, which erupted in northeast Nigeria in 2009, has killed more than 30,000 people and forced about 2 million to flee their homes.

 

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Nigerian Army orders more CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAP​


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Chinese Poly Technologies will provide more CS/VP3 Bigfoot Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to the Nigerian Army after the type’s superior performance in the war against terrorists.

In 2015, Poly Technologies delivered 120 CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAP (Mine- Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle) to Nigeria.

According to Chinese sources, additional batch of the CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAPs have been manufactured by the Chinese automobile company China Chang’an Automobile Group Company (Chongqing), and is ready to be shipped to Nigeria on or before March 2021.

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This latest batch will add to the already large plethora of Chinese military equipment paid for by special funds and delivered to Nigeria over the past few years. Nigeria which is currently battling terrorism, armed banditry, and other security crises is ramping up its military capabilities to better deal with the issue.

In Nigeria, Poly Technologies’ Bigfoot MRAP has somewhat earned a positive reputation for its reliability and troops protection capability against small arms, light weapons and improvised explosives prevalent in the troubled region.

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A CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAP leading a Nigerian Army convoy in the restive Sambisa forest (Nigerian Army image)


At least a dozen CS/VP3 Bigfoot have been reported captured or destroyed by terrorist’s IED in Nigeria however, despite severe damage to the vehicle, personnel usually come out unscathed.

On 3 January, the Nigerian Army launched “Operation Tura Takaibango”, -a sub-campaign of the well-known Operation Lafiya Dole to completely rid the dreaded Alagarno of terrorist elements. The campaign began with the amassing of a vast amount of weaponries and hardware including newly acquired VT-4 (MBT-3000) main battle tanks, ST-1 105 mm tank gun support and tank destroyers, several streit armoured personnel carriers, modified SH-5 155mm self-propelled artilleries, Alvis FV 101 Spartans, multiple rocket launcher systems (MLRS), Buffalo guntrucks, and thousands of men drawn from various divisions.

The CS/VP3 MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) was designed and manufactured by Chinese Company Poly Technologies. First unveiled at the DSA 2012, defence exhibition in Malaysia.

Although significantly cheaper than its American or European counterparts, the CS/VP3 offers comparable protection, which is why the Nigerian Army still fields it despite operating several MRAPs sourced from South Africa, the United States, as well as indigenous designs.

The CS/VP3 is in service with the police of Nigeria and Uganda.


 

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Norinco under fire for supplying inferior armoured vehicles to Nigeria​


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Norinco under fire for supplying inferior armoured vehicles to Nigeria

Nigerian Army’s new Chief of Staff General Attahiru has warned China’s leading defense equipment manufacturer Norinco that it could be sanctioned and excluded from future military equipment supply contracts after several recently delivered armoured combat vehicles suffered technical problems.

Norinco could likely be blacklisted from participating in further bidding process in military procurement processes the Army Chief warned.

Around April last year, China’s state-owned NORINCO delivered 17 armored combat vehicles including artillery trucks, six VT4 main battle tanks (a variant of the MBT-3000), six ST1 tank destroyers, three SH2 and two SH5 105 mm self-propelled artillery to the Nigerian Army (NA).


The business was worth $152 million which included maintenance and training packages. During the bidding process, Norinco touted the flexible maintenance and durability of its equipment, as well as it’s suitability in low-intensity conflict like in Nigeria as a major selling point.

These factors prompted Nigeria to snap up orders for several of the type, making the West African country the first in the world to operate these armored vehicles.

However, it seems that the vehicles are not as effective as advertised, and some has completely failed to fulfill even the most basic factory stated specifications. Several of the vehicles including VT-4 main battle tanks, ST-1 fire support vehicles, SH2 and SH5 105 mm self-propelled artillery are suffering mechanical issues on the battlefield, sometimes requiring to be towed back to base.

Chinese weaponry is increasingly attracting patronage mainly as a result of its cost-effectiveness, although they are often less advanced than those sold by other countrie.

For several years now, China has gained a solid foothold in Africa, since 2008, African nations collectively purchased around 21 per cent ($3 billion since 2008) of China’s overall arms exports.

he top five arms importers in sub-Saharan Africa within that period are Nigeria, Angola, Sudan, Cameroon and Senegal. Together, these countries accounted for 56% of arms imports to the subregion.

At the time of purchasing the armoured vehicles from China, the Nigerian Army was neck-deep in the fight to end the insurgency even at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nigerian Army launched “Operation Tura Takaibango” on 3 January, -a large and aggressive offensive under the well-known Operation Lafiya Dole to completely rid the dreaded Alagarno of terrorist elements.

Hence, the military was in dire need of these equipment. And within a few week of being introduced into the theatre, Nigeria placed order for additional armoured vehicles.

This is not the first time Norinco is being criticized for supplying low-quality equipment to an African country. A fleet of Chinese-made Norinco VN1 8×8 infantry fighting vehicles (the export version of its ZBL-08) acquired by Gabon has also been reported to be problematic.

The Norinco VN1 8×8 armoured vehicles were delivered in 2019, and are operated by Gabon’s country’s elite Republican Guard (GR).

Persistent mechanical issues attributed to the VN1’s locomotion system prevented Gabon from deploying it’s troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).


 

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The Nigerian army has deployed several RM-70 rocket artillery system to the northwest, giving ground forces the ability to counter mortar and rocket attacks by Boko Haran and bandits fighters.


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Nigeria Inducts JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets Imported from Pakistan​


Nigeria Inducts JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets Imported from Pakistan

Nigerian Air Force JF-17 tail number NAF722: NAF image


Nigeria today inducted the JF-17 Thunder jet it imported from Pakistan on the occasion of the 57 th anniversary of the founding of the Nigerian Air Force.

A JF-17 Jet, bearing tail number NAF722 was displayed in the airfield of Makurdi Air Base where the ceremony was held.
A NAF pilot who was briefing dignitaries said during a live broadcase that the JF-17 Thunder is a 4.5 generation fighter jet equipped with air-to-air and air-to-ground fighting capability. It has eight under-wing hardpoints to accommodate a variety of bombs and missiles.

He also said that the Nigerian JF-17 is equipped with an Aselpod targeting pod system that can identify targets with pin-point accuracy and inform which ones among them are active. Pakistan had acquired the Aselpad from Turkey’s Aselsan for the use of its own air force. This is the first time it has come to light that the Aselpod is a part of the package sold to Nigeria.
Earlier, the NAF had said that the JF-17 multi-role Thunder aircraft will “add impetus to the ongoing fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other forms of criminality in the country.” Given this clear message, the JF-17 may immediately put into service to conduct air strikes against the Boko Haram rebels that are running riot in certain parts of the county.

Nigeria Inducts JF-17 Thunder Fighter Jets Imported from Pakistan

Pakistan A F Vice Chief, Air Marshal Syed Noman Ali near the JF-17 cockpit: NAF Video grab

The Vice Chief of Air Staff Pakistan Air Force, Air Marshal Syed Noman Ali attended the induction ceremony.
The three JF-17s ordered by Nigeria are the first of over two dozen that the NAF wants to eventually buy. However it has not indicated when the folow-on orders will come.

The NAF has made it clear that the JF-17 will be its front-line multi-role fighter jet and that it has opted for this fighter due to its low acquisition and maintenance costs.

 
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