Nigerian Air Force.

The Nigerian Air Force duing the 47th convocation ceremony of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) Kaduna yesterday, 27 July 2018 showcased some new technological innovation.

The service which has been in the forefront of Research and Development (R&D) in Nigeria over the past years, unveiled some aeronautical projects which includes; a prototype Unmanned Hexacopter, Oleo-Pneumatic Shock Absorber for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), an Automatic Solar Tracking System and a Rocket Launcher Circuit Test Box.

Others were a prototype of Light Weight Helicopter, similar to the recently unveiled Nigerian Army-made Helicopter Project , as well as the adaptation and installation of BO-105 Helicopter guns on the Bell 412 Helicopters recently handed over to the NAF by the Federal Government.


See more pictures here>>>

Nigerian Air Force straps bomb to Hexacopter drone, showcase modified gunpods. | African Military Blog
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
We have an expectation that posters comment upon what they are posting rather than just cutting and pasting an article.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
Dear moderators, maybe we can change this thread to "Nigerian Air Force" thread.

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Janes reports that one of the three Nigerian Air Force (NAF) JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters has been seen carrying what is almost certainly an Aselpod targeting pod made by Turkish company Aselsan.

So it is remarkable that a Turkish targeting pod can be integrated in a chinese designed jetfighter, but also that not the Chinese WMD-7 targeting pod is used by the Nigerians for the JF-17.
 

SABRE

Super Moderator
Verified Defense Pro
Dear moderators, maybe we can change this thread to "Nigerian Air Force" thread.

===================================================

Janes reports that one of the three Nigerian Air Force (NAF) JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters has been seen carrying what is almost certainly an Aselpod targeting pod made by Turkish company Aselsan.

So it is remarkable that a Turkish targeting pod can be integrated in a chinese designed jetfighter, but also that not the Chinese WMD-7 targeting pod is used by the Nigerians for the JF-17.
Going by the Pakistani intention, the JF-17 was planned as an aircraft incorporating Chinese airframe and Western avionics as well as some weapon systems. For obvious reasons, as the project neared fruition, Pakistan ended up going for the Chinese avionics and a mix of Chinese (mostly) and Pakistani weapon systems. From what it appears, in some technological areas the JF-17 remains modular and can adapt to 3rd party systems. This is possibly more true for Block-II and III.
 

STURM

Well-Known Member
On another note Nigerian Alpha jets saw some combat in Sierra Leone. Another African conflict in which African operated Western made jets saw combat was the so called African Civil War. Hawks from Zimbabwe were employed [at least one was lost]: as were former Rhodesian Alo 3s in the gunship or "K Car" role.

This conflict lasted a few years; was extremely bloody and involved numerous African countries but remains largely unknown.
 
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STURM

Well-Known Member
So it is remarkable that a Turkish targeting pod can be integrated in a chinese designed jetfighter, but also that not the Chinese WMD-7 targeting pod is used by the Nigerians for the JF-17.
If the customer is willing to pay for integration and certification and the manufacturer of the pod is willing to make available the needed source and object codes then yes it's possible. There could have been political reasons why the PAF went for a Turkish pod.

Unless of course the Chinese were unable to provide a targeting/navigation pod that met PAF requirements; like how the Malaysians went for Damocles to equip their Su-30MKMs because the Russians were unable to supply a pod with the needed capabilities. I doubt this is the case here with the Chinese.
 
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Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
On 12 March 2024, Bell Textron, based in Fort Worth Texas, was awarded a USD 455 million firm-fixed-price, undefinitised contract for the production and delivery of twelve Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to the government of Nigeria.

The new-built Vipers will join the six Agusta/TAI T129 ATAK attack helicopters, the first two of which were noted in October of the previous year, with all expected to be delivered by the first quarter of 2024. Besides the T129, the Nigerian Air Force is also in the possession of the Mi-24/35.
 
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