Joseph Bakare
More combat training for Nigerian Air Force pilots have seen the graduation of about 35 pilots.
The successful pilots graduated at the 401 Flying Training School (FTS), Kaduna and are set be deployed for “national assignments”, according to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar.
They would be involved in the ongoing operations in different theatres.
The Air Force has also acquired 12 additional fighter aircraft to enhance its operational capabilities.
The newly trained pilots of Basic Transport Flying Course 5 and Ab-initio Student Pilot Course 49, comprises 10 Basic Transport Course graduates and 25 Ab-initio Student Pilots respectively.
Speaking during the combined graduation ceremony, Abubakar urged the newly graduated pilots to view their flying qualifications not merely as personal milestones, but “as a solemn national responsibility”.
The Chief of Air Staff said, “Earning your flying qualification is not just a personal achievement, it is a national responsibility. You carry not just rank and wings, but the hopes of millions of Nigerians who depend on us for safety and security.”
He stressed that the operational strength of the NAF is directly linked to the standard of its training, saying the force would not in anyway take training with levity in order to defeat emerging threats.
“In the Nigerian Air Force, we say that the quality of our training determines the strength of our operations. This is why, under my leadership, we are upgrading training institutions, inducting more aircraft, and evolving our doctrines to meet the demands of modern warfare.
“This graduation is another milestone in the ongoing transformation of the NAF into a more agile, resilient, and technology-driven force,” the service chief explained.
He commended the 401 FTS for over four decades of excellence in pilot training, during which it has produced more than 700 pilots for the NAF, Nigerian Navy, and other African countries, including Republic of Benin, Cape Verde, Niger, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone.
The CAS also reiterated that NAF would remain dedicated to enhancing professional capacity, improving personnel welfare and executing its constitutional mandate to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity while supporting national development.
In January 2025, NAF took stock of new additions to its fleet, including two King Air 360i light transport aircraft, four T-129 ATAK helicopters, two Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters and four DA-62 surveillance aircraft.
Abubakar, highlighted that the force was also set to receive 24 M-346 fighter aircraft and 10 additional Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters from Italy.