The Federal Government has significantly enhanced the operational capacity of the Nigerian Army with the acquisition of 43 Bayraktar TB2 drones, primarily for deployment in the North-West to combat insurgency and other security challenges.
Brigadier General U.G. Ogeleka, Commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command, disclosed this on Tuesday during the winging ceremony of 46 personnel trained in operating and maintaining the drones.
The initiative, codenamed Project Guardian, is a strategic effort to bolster military operations in the region.
“Between May and September 2022, a team of 35 officers and 11 soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s routinely piloted aircraft system regiments underwent specialized training in Turkey on the operation and maintenance of the Bayraktar TB2 drones,” Brig. Gen. Ogeleka said.
The trained team includes multi-piloted aircraft pilots, mission operators, avionics, and mechanical engineers.
Out of the 46 trained personnel, 22 were officially winged during the ceremony, comprising 14 multi-piloted aircraft pilots, seven mission operators, and 23 engineers and technicians.
The remaining personnel are currently engaged in operational duties, reflecting the army’s rapid deployment approach.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, lauded the acquisition and training as pivotal to enhancing the army’s professionalism and combat readiness.
“The winging of these 22 officers and soldiers as pilots and certified maintenance engineers is a morale booster for others in service. It confirms their readiness to operate and maintain the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones in our inventory,” Oluyede remarked.
He also revealed plans to procure additional unmanned aerial systems in the coming year to expand operations across all theatres nationwide.
The Bayraktar TB2 drones, renowned for their advanced surveillance and precision strike capabilities, are expected to play a crucial role in addressing the persistent security challenges in the North-West, a region plagued by banditry and insurgency.
This acquisition underscores the government’s commitment to leveraging modern technology to strengthen national security.
It also highlights the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to modernize its arsenal and develop its personnel’s technical expertise.
With more unmanned aerial systems in the pipeline, the Nigerian military is poised for improved real-time surveillance and precision combat operations, marking a significant step toward achieving long-term security objectives.