Kaduna
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reiterated the commitment and determination of his administration to bring about the desired change for the country.
Addressing the induction ceremony of the first indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ‘TSAIGUMI’ held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base Kaduna, Buhari said the successful launching of the UAV was a proof that his administration was interested in development of local contents, not only in the military but across other sectors of the economy.
The President expressed satisfaction with the efforts of current leadership of NAF, saying that the significance of the milestone of national technological development could not be over-emphasised.
According to him, the world is witnessing an ever increasing surge in the employment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in military operations because, while standard air weapons such as missiles, fighters and bombers work against well-defined targets like conventional enemy forces or installations, they are not as useful in today’s complex wars that are fought against adversaries who are often hidden amongst innocent populations or in sensitive locations.
“Unmanned Aerial Vehicle can loiter and maintain an ‘unblinking stare over a chosen area for hours. Thanks to the ability to ‘watch and wait, its operator, often miles away, can provide a continuous stream of vital information on enemy activities and if the platform is weaponised, it patiently chooses the best moment to engage.
“Thus the employment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle capabilities for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and where possible, strike operations significantly increases the chances of success while minimising unwanted collateral damage.
“We remain determined to overcome all challenges to our security and development as a nation. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with us to make our collective dreams of greatness a reality,” he added.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar in his
remarks said, the desire to have battle space dominance and awareness
has increased especially with the increasing complexity of contemporary security challenges and the moral burden that has been placed on professional Armed Forces to conduct military operations with precision and minimum collateral damage.
