Nigeria Air Force to acquire C295W military aircraft

By OKOSUN DENNIS

The Nigerian Airforce is making arrangements to acquire C295W aircraft from Spain.

It was learnt that the aircraft has the operational capabilities to meet some of the operational needs of the NAF including Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and airlift operations.

Towards its realisation, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, held discussions with His Excellency, the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastian De Erice, and two executives of Airbus Defence and Space Company (Spain) at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Abuja.

In January, it was learnt that there was a presentation on the aircraft and a sale proposal was submitted to NAF, who indicated interest in acquiring it. He pointed out that budgetary allocation has been made for the 2017 budget proposal.

Meanwhile, the Chief has urged the visiting team to shop for training areas for NAF pilots and technicians on the aircraft sequel to its acquisition.

The CAS further stated it was imperative to train its pilots with a view to ensuring a smooth take-off for the operation of the aircraft in the event of its approval by the Federal Government.

The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Group Captain Aypdele Famuyiwa added that the NAF was interested in variants of the aircraft that has the capability of undertaking multiple roles.