The drone will be used for a variety of functions.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Kaduna unveiled the country’s first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), GULMA, designed and constructed by the Nigerian Air Force.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Jonathan said that the unveiling of the vehicle marked another landmark moment in the nation’s history.

He said that besides its diverse military application, the vessel would provide a range of benefits in disaster management, power line surveys and law enforcement.

Mr. Jonathan said that the vehicle would also be useful in aerial imaging/mapping, telecommunications and weather monitoring.

“It is also rapidly becoming an important tool in news coverage, environmental monitoring, and oil and gas exploration.

“Considering the potential impact of its benefit and versatility, I cannot but say how proud I am of the men and women of our Armed Forces,” the president said.

“Apart from their commitment to the protection of our sovereignty, they are helping to keep our nation ahead in military science and technology and to keep their civilian counterparts on their toes.

“Today, as we stand in appreciation of the gallant men and women of our Air Force, we are reminded that hard work and diligence can break many barriers,’’ he said.

Mr. Jonathan commended the Chief of Air Staff and all officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force for the achievement, noting that it would strengthen the country. He said it would also enhance the nation’s role in peace keeping and conflict prevention.

The president said he was optimistic that this stride by the Nigerian Air Force would mark a turning point for indigenous technology in every sector of the nation’s life.

“Let me assure the Air Force of the Federal Government’s support for this and all other research projects. We will encourage and assist private sector concerns to key into mass production of the project to achieve the highest and best commercial use of this prototype Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

“As I said in my Independence Day address, our nation is made great by the big and small efforts of regular citizens. Indeed, indigenous initiatives remain indispensable in achieving national greatness.

“To retain the country’s importance on the global stage, we must continue to produce leaders in science, technology, and engineering, and invest more in ideas,” the president said.

In his remark, the Supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku, said the development of a surveillance aircraft by the Nigerian Air Force was a bold statement of government’s resolve to provide security for the Nigerian populace.

Mr. Maku, who is the Minister of Information, said that the GULMA UAV would potentially afford the armed forces a window of immense opportunities in its task of acquiring timely intelligence and combating criminality.

“Although the UAV was a brainchild of the Nigerian Air Force, it is important that other services and security agencies incorporate it into their operations, if its potential is to be fully harnessed.

“There is therefore, the need for a comprehensive policy on UAV acquisition and operation to optimise the employment of GULMA UAV by all services and security agencies,’’ he said.
Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, had said that the GULMA was designed to meet vast expectations and needs.

Mr. Badeh said that the GULMA could be employed by the armed forces and security agencies for the protection of the country.

He explained that the air force envisaged partnership with agencies such as NEMA and the Nigeria Air Space Management Agency for weather forecasting.

“Furthermore, the GULMA, as a qualitative, timely and reliable source of information could serve as a powerful tool for media practitioners.

“To sustain the current tempo of development, the NAF would require the assistance of government in infrastructure and human capacity development,” the Air chief said.
(NAN)

http://premiumtimesng.com/news/151624-jonathan-launches-first-nigerian-built-drone.html?

No pix, no test flight, nothing.


In this day and age of camera phones

Keep deceiving yourselves

Where is the toy?
This country is a joke.

Thread upon thread and still no picture of the Drone ... Okay oooo

Nonsense people. Nigeria is a joke, then fu ck out of it. If you want to see the drone, take a trip to Kaduna. Nonsense.

You gave us a piece of news of a built drone which will be launched, the caption in it is a picture of men in agbada.
Agbada na drone?

To be sincere, there isn't any reason why the picture of the drone can't be shown, at least to know how it looks like.

Boko Haram, your end is in sight. This is a great development!

tokunboh: Boko Haram, your end is in sight. This is a great development!

Don't be fooled. That drone is to be used by Ihederica when SS/SE go to war against Nigeria.

Desola:

Don't be fooled. That drone is to be used by Ihederica when SS/SE go to war against Nigeria.

'derica tomato or rice..lol!...Nigeria is such a big joke. A country without constant electricity, good road and food self-sufficiency going to drone production? A country that can't even produce the Ak-47s used by its military. There's nothing worse than misplaced priorities. GEJ only gives us more reason to call him "CLUELESS"!!!

Desola:

Don't be fooled. That drone is to be used by Ihederica when SS/SE go to war against Nigeria.

LoL...dat wud be a nice idea.

Desola:

Don't be fooled. That drone is to be used by Ihederica when SS/SE go to war against Nigeria.

What's this one saying nau?

Toktee: Where is the toy?
This country is a joke.

Look a little closer, you will see the 'toy'.

funshint:
'derica tomato or rice..lol!...Nigeria is such a big joke. A country without constant electricity, good road and food self-sufficiency going to drone production? A country that can't even produce the Ak-47s used by its military. There's nothing worse than misplaced priorities. GEJ only gives us more reason to call him "CLUELESS"!!!

one word for you:IGNORANCE

Drone ko, droid ni....this thing looks like some toy battery operaated aircraft we played with back then especially the red tyres .

Good development....

Jonathan Launches First Nigerian – Built Drone

Niger delta boi:
one word for you:IGNORANCE

His name is IGNORAMUS

Desola:

Don't be fooled. That drone is to be used by Ihederica when SS/SE go to war against Nigeria.

OH! SORRY........I SEE YOU'RE PRAYING FOR WAR.......A WAR YOU MAY NOT SURVIVE....KEEP AT IT.....WISH YOU GOOD LUCK

sleeky007:


OH! SORRY........I SEE YOU'RE PRAYING FOR WAR.......A WAR YOU MAY NOT SURVIVE....KEEP AT IT.....WISH YOU GOOD LUCK

Dont mind her, she no sabi anything.. Too many kids on NL.

funshint:
'derica tomato or rice..lol!...Nigeria is such a big joke. A country without constant electricity, good road and food self-sufficiency going to drone production? A country that can't even produce the Ak-47s used by its military. There's nothing worse than misplaced priorities. GEJ only gives us more reason to call him "CLUELESS"!!!

you are as dumb as a monkey.

idupaul: Thread upon thread and still no picture of the Drone ... Okay oooo

You blind?

abeg whats is dis small aeroplane use for...

A country where 36 governors cannot credibly elect a chairman, yet they want build a drone.

Aircrafts that are fully manned and with several controllers are still not safe and they want us to believe this.

Abegi, will the drone be capable of showing us election cheats?

Desola:

Don't be fooled. That drone is to be used by Ihederica when SS/SE go to war against Nigeria.

Kai! Tribalism na bastard! See how bigotry has beclouded your common reasoning! All you see there is Muslim attire and you still had the inanity to bring tribalism into this topic. Keep fearing the Igbos.

Silly Igbo hater!

htconeline: abeg whats is dis small aeroplane use for...

Oga, read nau

htconeline: abeg whats is dis small aeroplane use for...

Nothing, na worthless stationary toy decoration designed to fool the people of Nigeria..

It is by gradual process that we can improve if only we can be serious an eschew bitterness with the president.

.

agbameta:

Nothing, na worthless stationary toy decoration designed to fool the people of Nigeria..

You are so pained... You need help.

What obasanjo could not archive in his 8yrs

BREAKING NEWS: An unmanned aerial vehicle (drone), GULMA, designed and constructed by the Nigerian Air Force malfunctioned and struck Aso Rock Presidential Villa. The Nigerian Air Force had no immediate information on whether the drone has malfunctioned before.

funshint:
'derica tomato or rice..lol!...Nigeria is such a big joke. A country without constant electricity, good road and food self-sufficiency going to drone production? A country that can't even produce the Ak-47s used by its military. There's nothing worse than misplaced priorities. GEJ only gives us more reason to call him "CLUELESS"!!!

trust me, jonathan is very far from clueless. He is EVIL!!