NAF, Egyptian Air Force Partner on Pilot Training

• The Nigerian Air Force and Egyptian Air Force agree to strengthen cooperation in pilot training and research and development
• The NAF signs an MoU with Ariegsa to build aircraft simulators in Nigeria, enabling knowledge transfer and skills development

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and his Egyptian counterpart, Lieutenant General Mahmoud Foaad Abd El-Gawad, have agreed to strengthen cooperation between their air forces, focusing on pilot training and Research and Development (R&D).

According to a statement released on Thursday by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, this commitment was made during Air Marshal Abubakar’s visit to Cairo, Egypt, where he met with General El-Gawad.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed the longstanding training relationship between their air forces, which they plan to leverage further. The NAF, which has previously benefited from the training of approximately 50 pilots by the Egyptian Air Force (EAF), aims to continue this collaboration. The two air chiefs also explored opportunities for joint efforts in R&D, particularly regarding the maintenance of NAF’s Alpha jets. The EAF will send a team to Nigeria to assess the jets and work with NAF engineers on their overhaul. The team will also evaluate the potential for in-house tactical training to improve the skills of NAF pilots.

While in Egypt, Air Marshal Abubakar attended the Egypt International Air Show at El-Alamein International Airport. During the event, he met with representatives from Aero Vodochody Aerospace, a Czech manufacturer of the L-39NG aircraft, which is part of NAF’s fleet; CATIC, the producer of the Wing Loong Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; and Ariegsa, an Egyptian company known for integrating defense and attack systems and manufacturing aircraft simulators.

The NAF subsequently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ariegsa to build simulators for each aircraft type in the NAF Order of Battle. The simulators will be constructed in Nigeria in collaboration with NAF engineers to ensure the transfer of knowledge and skills.