http://www.airforcesmonthly.com‘In association with...’Aircraft Maintenance Depot at
MMIP, Ikeja; 403 Electronics
Maintenance Depot at Shasha;
405 Central Armament Depot
in Makurdi; 407 Equipment
Supply Depot and 551 (ex-435)
Base Services Group at Ikeja;
and 561 (ex-445) NAF Hospital
also at Ikeja. The 500-series
designations of most of these
units have not yet been disclosed.
Aircraft inventory
The NAF has been slowly
growing its operational fast
jet fleet since around 2013, a
March 2017 estimate putting its
number at around 20 aircraft.
They include some eight Alpha
Jets, six or seven F-7NIs and a
single FT-7NI, plus, since late
last year, at least four L-39ZAs
weaponised with UB-16 rocket
and GSh-23 cannon pods.
Between four and six more
L-39ZAs are believed to be
operational with 403 FTS as basic
trainers, with the potential for
conversion to the light attack role.
Actual holdings of combat-
capable jets are much greater,
and include around 12 Alpha Jets
(of 27 acquired), 11 or 12 F-7NIs,
including one remaining FT-7NI
trainer (of 12 single-seaters and
three trainers acquired), and
perhaps as many as 21 surviving
L-39ZA airframes (of 25 acquired).
Helicopters
Over the past two years, growing
numbers of various helicopters
have entered service, apparently
with no attempt to restrict the
number of types for ease of
logistics and maintenance.
The fleet includes an estimated
14 Mi-24V/35P/35M gunships,
at least two Mi-17 armed
transports, one or two Super
Puma medium transports, an
AW101 medium transport (a
second is being repaired after an
incident at Makurdi in November
2016) and between eight and 12
AW109 LUHs fitted with cabin-
mounted machine guns.
Further capacity comes from
two to three armed EC135s,
including NAF 547 and 548,
provided by the Nigerian National
Petroleum Company (NNPC) in
March last year and subsequently
reactivated by the country’s Aero
Contractors. In July, one of three
Dauphins (NAF 527) also handed
over by the NNPC in 2016 was
seen in desert camouflage at
Aero Contractor’s hangar in Port
Harcourt undergoing repairs
prior to entering service.
In addition, there are small
numbers of other helicopters of
doubtful operational capability,
including around three Ecureuils
and an EC120. Both types were
first seen in a mix of military
and civilian finishes inside a
hangar in Yola in July 2015, but
their provenance is unclear.
Two new Bell 412EP aircraft,
ordered under the previous
Jonathan administration for
the Rivers State government’ssecurity forces, were delivered
to the NAF in February after
the Nigerian Customs Service
commandeered them.
More helicopters began
arriving last December, as
deliveries of between six and
12 additional new-build, night-
capable Mi-35M gunships and a
similar number of armed Mi-17
or Mi-171 helicopters ordered
from Russian Helicopters began.
The first two Mi-35Ms – NAF
559 and 560 – were inducted in
April, seeing combat in May.
Four more Mi-35Ms and a similar
number of transports – most likely
Mi-17s – are expected to enter
service this year, with additional
helicopters due in 2018, according
to official statements from the NAF
and Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence.ISR aircraft
The NAF views its ISR aircraft
as game-changing assets. The
number of active platforms in
service had risen from one in
July 2015 to six by March thisyear as grounded aircraft were
reactivated and others equipped
with electro-optical (EO) kit.
They comprise two ATR 42s
(including NAF 931, reactivated
after being grounded for
almost two years at Yola), three
King Air 350s (NAF 201, 202
and 204) and a DA42 MPP.
King Air 350 NAF 201 has
had a sensor upgrade, while
two more, including NAF 202,
have been equipped with EO
kit. An additional King Air, NAF
203, could also potentially be
converted as an ISR platform.
In addition to fixed-wing
assets, at least one AW109 and
a Mi-17 (NAF 270) have an EO
fit, while the two newly inducted
Mi-35Ms are similarly equipped.Transports
The NAF sustains its operational
logistics and tactical airlift
commitments with only a handful
of aircraft – C-130H NAF 913, two
C-130H-30s (NAF 917 and 918)
and possibly up to three G222s,
although these appear to be under
depot maintenance at Lagos
after heavy use in 2014-15 – and
perhaps no more than five Do 228
light transports. In July, one of the
ATR 42 maritime patrol aircraft
was also being used a transport –
possibly as a stopgap measure.The second part of this Force
Report, in a forthcoming issue,
will examine the NAF’s post-2014
combat operations, strategic
goals and current inventory,
including a full order of battle.Above: Although it was expected that the DA40NG would be replaced by the recently acquired Super Mushshak, recent
information suggests the two types may serve as complementary training assets. NAF
Above: Mi-17 or Mi-171Sh NAF 558 likely pictured at Maidurguri in February. First seen late last year, it is unclear if this
is the first of a larger batch of similar helicopters that are reportedly on order. NAFAFMhttp://www.airforcesmonthly.com #354 SEPTEMBER 2017 // 55