₦airaland Forum

VonSmallhausen:
Another reason why any serious country must control its weapons and ammunition sources, preferably producing most locally. Otherwise, you could spend valuable resources to acquire arms, and one single change in foreign policy could render them all useless.

Even the items we are buying from the US today, could become useless to us tomorrow if a new US govt that does not like Nigeria comes to power.

In the world today.

Only the USA, Russia, France and China have fully independent weapons manufacturing capacity.

Every other manufacturer depends on American, Russian or Chinese parts.

It's almost impossible to build a fully independent weapons manufacturing capacity as it is today. There are critical systems that are in the exclusive control of major super powers.

From what we have seen in the world today, all Nigerian governments in power must keep friendly relations with the US.

Our security depends on it. This is why I commend President Tinubu's approach to the whole Trump ignorant Genocide claim.

He didn't talk back at Trump, he did go to the US to be humiliated by Trump like we saw with the South-African President.

He simply dispatched the NSA to handle things diplomatically.

bidexiii:
[/b]The NA as started issuing out the upgraded DG-103 riffles to the frontline troops[b]

The MD of this company was part of the Nigerian delegation to Turkey.

bidexiii:
[/b]The NA as started issuing out the upgraded DG-103 riffles to the frontline troops[b]

Nice!!

More NAF

More

CAS ADVANCES M-346 FIGHTER PROGRAMME DURING VISIT TO ITALY TO STRENGTHEN NIGERIA’S AIRPOWER AND DETERRENCE

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded notable progress in its fleet modernisation drive as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, engaged the Leonardo Aircraft Division in Milan, Italy, on the M-346 fighter ground attack aircraft programme. Describing the programme as a critical leap in renewing the NAF’s combat capability, the CAS noted that the M-346 platform will significantly enhance precision strike operations, improve advanced training outcomes, and strengthen Nigeria’s regional deterrence posture through synchronised delivery and seamless induction into operational service.

The visit to Italy, held between 19 and 20 January 2025, formed part of a broader strategic engagement with Leonardo, including high-level interactions with the Leonardo Helicopter Division. The engagements, undertaken alongside the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Defence and Finance, other senior government officials, and senior NAF officers, underscored the priority placed by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on airpower modernisation and defence–industrial cooperation as central pillars of national security. During the visit, Air Marshal Aneke commended Leonardo’s professionalism and longstanding support to the NAF, noting the vital role of platforms such as the AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters in ongoing counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and internal security operations.

The CAS further highlighted the proven operational record of Leonardo platforms in NAF service, including the G-222, ATR-42, and various AW-109 helicopter variants, which have delivered dependable performance across combat operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and other national support tasks. He emphasised the importance of timely aircraft delivery, structured training, and the establishment of a Leonardo Support Office in Nigeria to enhance aircraft availability, reduce turnaround time, and strengthen long-term sustainment. Responding on behalf of Leonardo, Mr Andrea Mirteto, Senior Vice President, Sales, Leonardo Helicopter Division, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Nigeria as a trusted strategic partner. Air Marshal Aneke assured Nigerians that the NAF remains steadfast in fulfilling President Tinubu’s mandate to decisively address security challenges nationwide, while building a more capable, responsive, and resilient Air Force in support of national development and economic growth.

#NigerianAirForce
#AirpowerModernisation
#M346 #DefenceCooperation
#NationalSecurity
#AirForceTransformation
#StrategicPartnership

QuietMynd:
The US is a currently a rogue nation

Maduro is stupid, Ukraine is stupid.

Know your place and run your country. Don't poke your powerful neighbours.

You're going to Learn the hard way.

If Taiwan tries to be ridiculous it would be the exact same reaction from China.

This whole Venezuela situation also showed how important it is for weak countries to avoid grandstanding.

Weak countries have to understand their place, and there's nothing wrong with that.

When the US and Trump was accusing Nigeria of Christian genocide, our President and political leaders especially the NSA and Foreign Ministry handled the situation very well and commendably.

Nigeria understands our place, we know we depend on the US economically and Militarily, there was no Grand standing, posturing or signaling.

We understood clearly from the start the US is powerful and we are not and we towed the diplomatic line.

JUST IN: General "Raizin" Caine gives a detailed breakdown of the U.S. attack on Venezuela, says they were so detailed that they knew what Maduro ate and where his pets were.

- 150 aircraft involved.

- U.S. forces arrived at Maduro's compound at 1;01 a.m.

- Helicopters came under fire, but "replied with that fire with overwhelming force and self-defense."

- Maduro and his wife gave up and were taken into custody.

- The youngest crew member was 20, and the oldest crew member was 49.

- Preparation took several months.

- "Those in the air over Caracas last night were willing to give their lives for those on the ground and in the helicopters."

- "After months of work by our intelligence teammates to find Maduro and understand how he moved, where he lived, where he traveled, what he ate, what he wore, what were his pets..."

- The weather was just clear enough for the mission so aviators could operate.

- All U.S. soldiers are safe.

The CIA quietly deployed officers to Venezuela beginning in August to monitor the movements and daily routines of President Nicolás Maduro, supporting broader U.S. intelligence operations, according to NYT

kabe1:
BREAKING: President Trump has announced his intention to Run the affairs of Venezuela until a new leader can take over from Maduro.

He said, "We are going to run the country until a safe, proper, and judicious transition. We don't want to be involved in someone else getting in with the same situation."

There is nothing like International Law, just power.

Those who have power and those who don't.

BREAKING: President Trump has announced his intention to Run the affairs of Venezuela until a new leader can take over from Maduro.

He said, "We are going to run the country until a safe, proper, and judicious transition. We don't want to be involved in someone else getting in with the same situation."

Faithful007:
Yeah not just the projection but the ability to complete operations under the element of suprise.

Not just nightstalkers. Delta force was the tip of the spear.

Also serious intelligence matters. Someone was questioning on X how choppers were able to fly around freely without threat of Manpads. That’s where the CIA comes in. The areas the helis would fly had likely already been spied on earlier on to for possibility of manpads.

It's been widely reported across mainstream media that Maduro cut a deal with the Americans.

Venezuelan Air Defense Systems did not fire a single missile, not one. No Manpads, nothing.

They had a very easy ride, captured the dude and left.

Venezuela, among other things, has Russian Igla-S MANPADs. About 5,000 missiles. They are designed to, for example, shoot down helicopters.

Not a single Igla-S was fired.

Odunayaw:

Official photo of captured Venezuelan President onboard USS Iwo Jima.

US Air Force Base in Puerto Rico.

Not far from Venezuela.

High Quality Airstrikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force.


The Terrorists in the last strike will require full body reconstruction.

Acting on US Air Force recent ISR operations over al-Faruq (Timbuktu Triangle) in Borno State, the Nigerian Air Force conducted airstrikes against ISWAP in Abirma and Chiralia on January 1 and 2, a position (likely JAS) was also struck in the Mandara Mountains on January 2. https://t.co/QbDMcaRAQT pic.twitter.com/yGND9G9cWD

— Brant (@BrantPhilip_) January 3, 2026

Odunayaw:
It's the cost of it that matters

Yes, but it won't be the Americans asking for a ceasefire.

Faithful007:
It was very obvious the US government had sworn to remove him. Maduro deceived himself to think that domestic opposition in the US would save him.

US has long wanted to bring back Venezuelan oil imports under a friendly government. The breakdown of relations with Russia made things worse.

Russia is the biggest loser in this as their oil will lose more leverage after Venezuelan sanctions are lifted.

This is the probably the template for Iran too.

A couple of weeks ago, there was an argument on Nigeria's inability to defeat despite terrorist attacks happening in our backyard.

I said the US military was in Afghanistan for 20 years and the very day the Americans left, the Taliban was back in power.

Tonight has once more shown American military capabilities. The Forward Force projection the Americans have at their disposal is incomparable, and is unmatched in the history of mankind.

It doesn't matter where the Americans are, they will provide unmatched firepower.

Just look at the Venezuela operation tonight, this was mainly conducted by the 160th and supported by the Air Force.

I think the US can take on Russia and China simultaneously.

Maduro Captured

kabe1:
9 US AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and CH-47 transport helicopters are seen flying over the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

The US is invading Venezuela.

It seems the US military operation in Venezuela has ended.

BREAKING: US military arrested Venezuela's president Maduro and his wife

kabe1:
US has began Invasion of Venezuela.

NOW: Multiple likely American helicopters airborne over Caracas, Venezuela pic.twitter.com/TRMXSoWi3k

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 3, 2026

9 US AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and CH-47 transport helicopters are seen flying over the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

The US is invading Venezuela.

US has began Invasion of Venezuela.

NOW: Multiple likely American helicopters airborne over Caracas, Venezuela pic.twitter.com/TRMXSoWi3k

— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 3, 2026

Exnavyboy62:
And unlike the United States that had back up and support of its powerful NATO and non-NATO allies which contributed their resources in the Afghan conflict and the Libyan campaign, Nigeria is basically on its own in the fight against Insurgency.
Even in the Multi-National Joint Task Force, Nigerian forces stand out as the most equipped and as such have to provide air or ground support for the other MNJTF members when they need it.

......... But, but we're supposed to magically deal with this problem, No Questions Asked and No Excuses!!!

If you combine all the military resources that Nigeria has amassed from the day of our independence in 1960 till today(11th June 2025), and you compare that with what Israel has today it's not even up to 1/4 of Israel's capabilities.

Yet, what did Israel actually achieve in Gaza, barely nothing of note.

Yet because of sensationalism or Politics you have Nigerians de-marketing the country at every instance.

This is unacceptable!

We have our many, many issues and faults, but we should not belittle the efforts of our armed forces working day and night to improve the security of the country.

Faithful007:
I doubt. If they knew they should have carried out preventive measures. The French ISR planes in the region were there already tracking JNIM activity.

Possibly. We can only make assessments based on the information available.

However there was a call between the Nigerian and French President on the day of the coup, so it was mostly likely there was intelligence prior to that day.

Faithful007:
Since the time of Bush, keeping US troops in Afghanistan was politically unpopular with the American public. Less than 3000 troops were in Afghanistan at the beginning of 2021. Obama literally campaigned on Afghanistan troop withdrawal.

If the US wants to erase anything Taliban from the earth. It will happen just at a bigger cost which the American public will not tolerate.

Similar case for Israel. Occupying a foreign territory is politically difficult and even the US has its red lines for Israel, not to talk of risking tensions with pro-hamas countries like Iran. Btw Israel has never fully occupied Gaza.

Remove political issues. Those groups will disappear. Where are ISIS and Al-Queda today?

In Syria, Iraq, Somalia and West Africa.

Unfortunately the points you mentioned for US and Israeli failure in their operations do not hold water.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan despite the US presence in the country.

What resources does Nigeria have to make any meaningful difference.

Nigeria does not have even a fraction of the resources the Americans had in Afghanistan.

Infact the Air campaign over Libya to topple Ghaddafi we don't even have that at our best strength.

The comment about insurgents moving freely is just as ignorant as they come(not to you).

Baller254:
What sense is your comparison?
Afghanistan is not inside America, Hamas is not controlling territory inside Israel, those insurgents are not freely operating inside those countries

This is a very, very dumb take!

So Nigeria has more military resources than the US and Israel or Russia.

"Who told you insurgents operate freely in Nigeria?"

Do you not read any of the thousands of press releases from the army and Air Force?


You guys come in hear talk trash on the Internet and go about your day.

Is there any insurgent in your house?

Baller254:
I'm just saying there shouldn't be insurgent problems at that scale considering the equipment

Considering the equipment, America spent 20 years in Afghanistan and the very day the Americans left the Taliban took power,

Cosidering the equipment, Russia has been fighting in Ukraine for 4 years.

Cosidering the equipment, Isreal spent 2 years and 2 months in Gaza, almost flattened the penninsula, and still could not defeat Hamas.

Some of you come online, make comments without thinking.

Especially for the guys who visit the military threads on nairaland regularly, you sound just as ignorant as the IBOP clowns on twitter.

Do Better!!

Additional Footage from the Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano A29 attack aircraft above Cotonou, Benin, yesterday, with heavy gunfire heard in the background.

Footage from the Nigerian Air Force Super Tucano A29 attack aircraft above Cotonou, Benin, yesterday, with heavy gunfire heard in the background. https://t.co/6uUQaH3igz pic.twitter.com/WxTnobr4Tz

— Brant (@BrantPhilip_) December 8, 2025