The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded more than 6,100 flying hours and 2,900 operational sorties between November 2025 and September 2026, as the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, approaches his first anniversary in office.
The sorties, which consumed nearly 10 million litres of aviation fuel, supported national security operations, including precision air strikes, armed reconnaissance, surveillance and close air support to surface forces.
The NAF disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
According to the statement, the achievements reflect the Service’s commitment to operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, technological advancement and institutional accountability under Aneke’s leadership.
It said operational missions were guided by intelligence-led planning, clearly defined objectives and assessments of mission outcomes to ensure that each sortie contributed meaningfully to national security.
On personnel development, the Air Force said 57 senior officers were promoted to the ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore, while 1,534 senior non-commissioned officers and 1,936 non-commissioned officers also advanced to higher ranks.
It added that more than 550 personnel participated in international training and professional engagements, while over 6,000 received training locally to strengthen their technical expertise, specialised competencies and leadership capacity.
The Service also highlighted improvements in personnel welfare, including enhanced allowances and medical support, accommodation and supporting infrastructure, as well as the reactivation of welfare airlift services for personnel deployed to frontline operational theatres.
On fleet modernisation, the NAF said it received five additional helicopters in September, comprising three AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters and two H125 helicopters, to expand its operational flexibility and support capacity.
It added that its broader acquisition programme includes 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and other planned aircraft and unmanned aerial systems to strengthen combat, airlift, training, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
The statement further disclosed that six L-39ZA aircraft had undergone reactivation and upgrades in Slovakia and Nigeria, while periodic depot maintenance of a C-130 aircraft was ongoing in Portugal.
On operational safety and accountability, the Air Force said it had established an Operational and Safety Audit Committee to support independent assessments of operational, engineering and armament units.
It also highlighted efforts to strengthen its Safety Management System and improve Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response through dedicated structures, standardised training, and enhanced assessment and investigation capabilities.
The Service is equally planning to establish an Open-Source Intelligence Centre to improve situational awareness and operational planning through better exploitation of available information and emerging technologies.
On infrastructure, the NAF said it had approved 284 projects, with 145 completed and 139 ongoing.
The projects cover residential accommodation, academic and medical facilities, administrative and operational infrastructure, roads, electricity, water supply and recreational facilities.
The Air Force also reported progress in local production and indigenous technological development, including Aircraft Release Device 863 impulse release cartridges, a 250-kilogram bomb-loading trolley and the development and ground testing of locally produced 57-millimetre rockets.
It said community-focused healthcare, educational and other special projects had also continued to strengthen civil-military relations and public confidence.
As Aneke approaches his first anniversary on October 30, the Service said it would continue to prioritise joint operations, strategic partnerships, improved aircraft maintenance, professional development and the responsible employment of airpower.
It added that its objective was to translate investments in personnel, equipment, training, technology and infrastructure into improved operational readiness and effectiveness in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges.
