Airforces

been a major increase in annual
recruit intake – typically about
500 in the past – since 2015.
On February 14 this year,
the CAS noted that the NAF
had inducted ‘over’ 2,000
recruits in 2016, and plans call
for the intake of 5,000 more
in two batches for 2017.
In July 2017, 1,928 recruits –
the largest number to date –
successfully completed their six-
month Basic Military Training
Course (BMTC) at the NAF’s
Military Training Centre, Kaduna
with “many” of them slated for
deployment on base protection
and combat duties. According to
the NAF, 4,163 recruits completed
basic training in the two-year
period between July 2015 and July
2017 – a new record for the NAF.
The next intake of recruits slated
for the BMTC numbers 3,000.
According to NAF officials, SOC
comprises nine units located
across the country at bases
including Bauchi, Daura, Gusau,
Ipetu-Ijesha, Jos, Owerri and Yola.
A planned air element, with
201 (ex-89) Composite Group
(CG) at Bauchi, will include
combat and logistics aircraft; it
currently fields several Quick
Response Groups (QRGs) and
QR Wings (QRWs) manned
by NAF Regiment troopers.
The SOC is also understood
to include 013 Quick Reaction
Force at Minna, although as a
DRU it may have a dual reporting
structure.
Known SOC units
include 201
CG (currently
without
aircraft)

at Bauchi; a QRW at Daura; 205

Combat Search And Rescue

Group at Kerang, near Jos; 207

QRG at Gusau; 209 QRG at

Ipetu-Ijesha; 211 Regt Group

(RG) at Owerri; and the 213

Forward Operating Base in

Katsina (with airfield facilities).

Assessed in July this year, most

of these SOC units appeared

to exist only in skeletal form

while their facilities and cadre

were being gradually built

up – with some units being

formally commissioned, such

as the QRW at Daura and

213 FOB, as of late July.

Mobility Command

Created out of Military

Airlift Command in February

2011, Mobility Command is

headquartered at Yenagoa, where

it sits alongside 235 BSG (its new

300-series number is not yet

known), which provides support.

Curiously, Yenagoa has no

airfield, although a facility is

under construction at nearby

Ammasoka. Other static units

include 351 BSG at Minna

and 371 FOB at Warri.

Mobility Command flying units

include 301 (ex-201) ‘Buffaloes’

Heavy Airlift Group (HAG), with

221 Flying Wing at Ikeja (Murtala

Muhammed International

Airport, MMIP), operating three

airworthy C-130H/H-30 Hercules

(out of eight airframes); and

303 (ex-203) Medium Airlift

Group (MAG), whose 227

Flying Wing nominally operates

between one and three G222

transports (out of six airframes)

at Ilorin, although these

‘operational’ aircraft appeared

to be grounded for maintenance

at Ikeja in early 2017.

Other MC units are 305 (ex-

Above: Mi-24V NAF 260 fitted with UB-32-57 pods for S-5 rockets. This helicopter is reportedly one of two acquired from

Ukraine in 2014-15 at a cost of almost $137m. This aircraft was damaged by ground fire during operations against Boko

Haram in August 2015. The helicopter was repaired and returned to service with 115 (ex-97) Special Operations Group

headquartered in Port Harcourt. NAF

Above: A NAF Regiment door gunner in Mi-24V NAF 260 on deployment at Ikeja

IAP during Operation Awatse in August 2016. NAF

52 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

FORCE REPORT Nigerian Air Force Part One