The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced specialized training for a new cadre of personnel on the 612A Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Radar System, as part of ongoing efforts to bolster its counter-drone operations in conflict zones.
The training, officially inaugurated on at the Headquarters of the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in Maiduguri, Borno State, is aimed at equipping select NAF personnel with the skills to detect, track, and neutralize hostile UAVs a growing threat in asymmetric warfare.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, emphasized the strategic importance of mastering advanced military technologies in modern combat environments.
“The importance of mastering both the theoretical and practical aspects of this training cannot be overstated,” Abubakar stated. “The NAF expects nothing less than excellence as you embark on this mission-critical programme to enhance our operational effectiveness.”
Also addressing the personnel, the Air Component Commander OPHK, Air Commodore U.U. Idris, described the training as timely, noting the rising use of improvised drones by insurgent groups in the region.
“The threats posed by hostile and improvised drone systems have challenged conventional air and ground security strategies,” he said. “This specialised training will significantly enhance our situational awareness and defensive capabilities.”
The initiative, as noticed by WorldClass247News, marks a significant step in the NAF’s ongoing push to maintain air superiority and adapt to the evolving dynamics of national and regional security threats.