The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has set its sights on achieving an ambitious 90% aircraft serviceability rate across its entire fleet by the fourth quarter of 2025, a major leap from its current 72%.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the bold target was announced by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, during the opening ceremony of the 2025 NAF Aircraft Engineering Conference, held on Wednesday at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja.
Themed “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships,” the high-level conference brings together aviation engineering professionals to chart a new course for aircraft maintenance and operational readiness within the service.
Air Marshal Abubakar underscored the importance of aircraft engineering in sustaining the NAF’s operational effectiveness. He noted that the current serviceability rate had improved significantly due to strategic investments in spare parts procurement, ground support equipment, and human capacity development through targeted training programmes.
Highlighting the force’s recent strides in fleet expansion, the CAS revealed that 15 modern aircraft have been inducted over the past two years, including the T-129 ATAK helicopters and Diamond 62 surveillance planes. Additionally, 49 more advanced platforms such as the M-346 fighter jets and AH-1Z attack helicopters are expected to join the fleet by the end of 2026.
“These platforms come with complex maintenance demands, and this requires a more forward-leaning, proactive approach,” the CAS stated. “We are adopting preventive maintenance strategies to reduce downtime and boost operational efficiency.”
In a major institutional reform, Air Marshal Abubakar announced the creation of the Directorate of Aircraft Life Cycle Management (DALCM), tasked with overseeing every stage of NAF aircraft life from acquisition to retirement. The new directorate is designed to ensure sustained aircraft performance, reduce service fatigue, and extend airframe longevity.
The CAS also commended NAF engineers and technicians for their exemplary contributions, including the first-ever in-country depot-level maintenance of a DO-228 aircraft and the successful revival of several previously grounded platforms.
He urged participants to leverage the conference to exchange ideas, innovate, and drive a culture of excellence in aircraft maintenance, describing effective engineering as “the bedrock of sustained air power.”
The conference is expected to set the tone for deeper collaboration, technological advancement, and strengthened partnerships in the field of military aviation engineering.
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