NAF Attains 72% In Aircraft Servicing, Says CAS

Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has revealed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has attained 72 percent aircraft serviceability, with a target of 90 percent across all platforms by December 2025.

He said significant investments have been made to ensure all operable aircraft in the NAF inventory are serviceable by the fourth quarter of 2025.

Air Marshal Abubakar spoke at the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference at NAF Headquarters, which had the theme “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships.”

He reiterated that the NAF has been allocating significant resources to boost serviceability rates, dedicating funds to purchase consumables for quarterly maintenance of its entire aircraft fleet.

He said: “Similarly, we have been relentless in ensuring the timely provision of critical spares as well as the provision of up-to-date technical publications, ground support equipment, tools, and specialised equipment.

“Through these efforts, we have achieved an average serviceability rate of about 72 percent. However, the target is 90 per cent serviceability rate across all our platforms,” he said.

“In this regard, significant investments have been made to ensure that every operable aircraft in the NAF inventory becomes serviceable by the Fourth Quarter of 2025.”

The CAS emphasised that a robust maintenance culture is essential for high serviceability rates, enabling NAF to maintain operational effectiveness and deliver sustained air power in pursuit of national security goals.

According to him, the NAF adopted a predictive maintenance culture in April last year, enabling the service to anticipate and schedule maintenance ahead of time, thereby preventing unexpected equipment failures.

He said: “As you are all aware, in the last 2 years, the NAF has reached new heights in operational capability.

Fifteen brand-new aircraft were received by the NAF, including six T-129 ATAK helicopters, two AW-109 Trekker Type A helicopters, three Beechcraft King Air aircraft, and four Diamond 62 aircraft.

“An additional 49 platforms are expected before the end of 2026. They include three CASA 295 aircraft, 10 AW 109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH 1Z helicopters, and 24 M 346 fighter aircraft.

“These aircraft are all high-tech platforms that require very sophisticated maintenance activities to operate effectively. Therefore, while taking proactive logistics actions and providing the needed maintenance resources, we must implement advanced, innovative, and data-driven aircraft and armament maintenance practices that ensure the optimal serviceability of all our aircraft.”

Air Marshal Abubakar described the conference theme as “apt and timely” because it aligns with key elements of his command philosophy.

Air Vice Marshal AI Amodu, the chief of Aircraft Engineering, noted that aircraft engineering was the backbone of the NAF’s mission and objectives.

According to him, in an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving threats, it is imperative that we embrace a proactive approach to engineering support.

He said: “This conference provides us with an invaluable opportunity to share insights, explore innovative strategies, and enhance our understanding of how effective aircraft maintenance culture can directly impact our operational readiness and efficiency.

“By fostering a culture that prioritises maintenance, we are not only extending the lifespan of our equipment but also enhancing our operational effectiveness.”