The Nigerian Air Force has hailed the massive contributions of its research and development teams to the successes recorded by the service in the country’s defence.

NAF’s director of research and development, Ndubuisi Okoro, gave the commendation while opening the 2025 Intra-Command Research and Development Competition of the Air Training Command on Wednesday in Kaduna.

He stated that the command had, in the last 15 years, produced local components for fighter and trainer jets and enhanced the operational efficiency of the service.

“It is therefore heart-warming that Air Training Command is contributing its quota towards achieving the desired self-reliance that is helping to sustain NAF operations across the country,” he stated.

Mr Okoro reeled out some of the impactful contributions, including products such as Mi-35 Hel Diaphragm, Alpha Jet aircraft heat shields, rocket launchers, and rockets deployed in various theatres of operations.

These efforts, he said, have been enhancing NAF’s operational capability and assured that the service would continue to place a high premium on research and development.

Mr Okoro explained that the annual R&D competition was introduced more than 15 years ago to engender a culture of self-reliance and innovation for all NAF units.

(NAN)