Nigerian Air Force Reinforces Drive For Indigenous Defence Technology
As part of activities marking the 61st anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has reaffirmed the Service’s unwavering commitment to self-reliance in defence technology, describing it as a “strategic imperative rather than a luxury.”
Speaking, today, 17 May 2025, during the 2025 edition of the Inter-Command Research and Development (R\&D) Competition and Exhibition held at NAF Base Asokoro, Abuja, the CAS emphasised the need for Nigeria to deepen its indigenous defence capabilities in response to the growing complexity of global and regional security threats.
“No nation can be truly secure if it depends solely on external sources for its defence needs,” he declared. “In today’s unpredictable and rapidly evolving security environment, self-sufficiency in arms development and military technology is not a luxury, it is a strategic imperative.”
Air Marshal Abubakar commended the progress NAF has made in transforming from a consumer of technology to an originator of cutting-edge military solutions. He highlighted major breakthroughs including the development of indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), rockets and launchers, weaponisation of platforms, and the retrofitting of unserviceable rockets.
Beyond hardware, the CAS outlined advancements in software development and digital transformation within the NAF. To institutionalise innovation, the NAF has elevated its R&D Centre to an Institute and equipped it with Artificial Intelligence laboratories and CNC machines, while the newly created Transformation and Innovation Branch at Headquarters NAF provides strategic oversight to sustain research outputs across the Service.
Highlights of the event included the signing of revised Memoranda of Understanding between the NAF and Equipment Protection Application International Limited, as well as between the NAF and Lagos State University (LASU). A major milestone was also recorded with the formal inauguration of the NAF-LASU Joint Research Committee, which is expected to drive the development of indigenous solutions to enhance national security and the operational effectiveness of the NAF.
The Inter-Command R&D Competition remains a flagship platform for showcasing ingenuity across NAF units and serves as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to enhance national defence capabilities.
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