₦airaland Forum

Yagz:
Why does the Nigerian Govt like buying capital millitary platforms peicemeal and in insufficient numbers?

Case in point - South Africa bought 4 Meko Valour Class frigates and 3 Type 209 submarines in one transaction. Egypt is buying FREMM Frigates and Mistral LPDs for fun ..not to talk of Gorwind and Meko Class corvettes. Algeria buys MEKO Class Valour frigates from Germany and corvettes from China in substantial numbers.

Nigeria is making noise over a sole destroyer as it's replacement Flagship? Haba!

There are 3 operational naval commands (Western, Eastern and Central). The Nigerian Navy should be given the funds to purchase at least 6 well armed OPVs (with missile capabilites), 3 Meko 200 'Valour' Class frigates with similar armaments as those purchased by Algeria and at least 2 Type 52D frigates from China.

Let's be absolutely clear- Nigeria currently has no navy, just a well equipped Coast Guard with a number of in-shore patrol craft (Shaldags, and OCEA PF72 patrol boats etc).

The hand-me-down Hamlilton Class ex -Us Coastgaurd long patrol vessels - NNS Thunder and NNS Okpbana, have no missile or ASW /ASuW capabilities whatseover. The OPVs purchased from China - NNS Century and NNS Unity have no missile, ASW or AsuW capabilies either- and these are supposed to be our capital ships NNS Aradu (our current Flag ship) for all intents and purposes has been reduced to a training vessel with all it's missile capabilites removed. The newly acquired NNS Lana is a Hydrographic Survey Vessel and is not armed.

Senegal is currently in the process of building naval vessels in France will soon (by 2022) have FACs with missile capabilites and thus become the only navy in West Africa with such vessels...and the Nigerian Navy ..sorry Coast Guard will then be caught napping!

Welcome Yagazie. I'm afraid your realist assessments will soon earn you detractors here.

Odunayaw:
You know it! I used to look forward to MikeCZA. 61Mech et al. Very intellectual discourse.

Now it's so much emotions and old wives fables

Now you're talking. All those guys would argue for days, but at least you'd learn something. The highlight for me remains the Frum vs Henry argument over the utility of SF vehicles that lasted months.

Completely worthless, but entertaining and informative nonetheless.

Incidentally, who here was around during the great Nairaland hack, which led to everything being lost and Henry doing his nut in?

Raeblack:
sadc

I appreciate your posts, but most of what you post has been posted before.

kabe1:
Stop hiding behind a veil. Your contributions are and always have been invaluable.

I agree with a number of assessments of the Nigerian military, most people including myself are stuck in the golden ages of the 80's and 90's of the Nigerian army especially.

Fact is the army is a shadow of it's self.

A number of security watchers on twitter now masturbate on a speech of the COAS and not actual security improvements on the ground.

That's where we are right now.

There is no veil. Though sometimes I wish I hadn't disclosed I was South African. Some here, not all, tend to dismiss my arguments by citing my nationality irrelevantly, and proceed to agree with the very same sentiment when expressed by an other poster.

None of us is imbued with knowledge of all things, and it's only through discussion that we enhance our understanding.

[Frum would've quoted some ancient scholar, using fewer words, and driven me to google]
I miss the intellectual days of the other thread.
Hell, even Patrick who always seemed to spoil for a fight.

Lurker4Long:
I just went back to his posts and I can understand why: he used to bang on about the same issues as do I. He has far better command of the English language though, as well as being well-versed in the subject matter.

I take it as a compliment as his contributions- along with Henry and others- got me hooked on this site. Those were them days!

Incidentally, I suspect he's still around as not all of his posts show up as "nobody".

Odunayaw:
I've accused you of being the same person too.

I just went back to his posts and I can understand why: he used to bang on about the same issues as do I. He has far better command of the English language though, as well as being well-versed in the subject matter.

I take it as a compliment as his contributions- along with Henry and others- got me hooked on this site. Those were them days!

kabe1:
You are @Frumentius, the SA soldier who served/serves in DRC.

There is no doubt about that.

There was no need changing your moniker.

I wish. Dude was infinitely more articulate than I.

SamuelAnyawu:
...Or the Army on ground do not have proper communication with the pilots for coordinates. I’m just confused about this.

When I observed that most NA vehicles do not appear to have radio antennas, I was pilloried by some here.
The friendly fire incident that resulted in 2 STTEP contractors losing their lives was because there were no radios to communicate their approach.

More recently, a terrorist convoy disguised as NA got close enough because there were no radios to communicate and distinguish friend from foe.(standard operating procedures demand a password which is changed daily so that base security is not taken by surprise; without this basic logistic component...)

With inadequate NA ->NA comms, what hope for NA ->NAF comms?

But, wetin concern me? Somehow nobody can make observations until their own house is in perfect order, according to some here.

General Rhudzani Maphwanya, formerly GOC SA Special Forces, Chief of Joint Operations, appointed as new Chief of the South African National Defence Force.

First time in a long while I've been enthused with appointment of CSANDF.

Lurker4Long:
Seen this morning: more Piranha IIIC 8x8 vehicles being delivered to Botswana.

The Botswana Defence Force has ordered 45.

X

GabrielYulaw:
Ever heard of a little something called artillery? It gives you a very long reach and let's you eat with the devil in safety.
Exactly why a Super Camp doesn't have long range arty, plus drones to adjust fire and ensure maximum precision is what I don't know. With artillery they could easily kill most attackers within a 50-70km radius from base and leave the rest so shell shocked they would be crying for their mommies.

Bravo! The first post here that combines questions about so-called super camps and artillery.

And yes, I know Botswana's posture is "western", but they trade extensively with the "east".

The ideal position for African countries- a non-aligned posture that chooses the best of what's available out there without taking sides.

kabe1:
Looking at initial purchase and operating cost, I'm more inclined to think the FA-50 would be their most preferred choice.

It depends. Not much difference in price, so geopolitics will come into consideration. Sweden or South Korea? Botswana has a well developed realist foreign policy. Their posture is a flexible balancing act amongst national interest, vis-a-vis SADC regionally, AU continentally, the greater outside world generally.

None of that is sequential, meaning they are only the 2nd southern African country after SA who can chart an independent foreign policy outlook.

motymop:
I saw this picture of one of bokoharam weapon a cannon gun aka howitzer.

Who is sponsoring them in buying these type of weapon?

Or is weapon that cheap in libya?

The howitzer was looted from either Nigeria, Chad, Niger or Cameroon armies, and then bolted down onto that looted truck. There's open source research that after 2017, arms from Libya trickled down to less than 10%. Which leaves the arseholes with almost 90% of their arsenal looted from the armies in the region.

Stephandesward:
I'm not omniscience, and every credible/ logical information , creates a clearer picture to determine best response to scenarios, that's why open source information is the best means for Intelligence agencies, to get details to fit the bigger picture together.

Bravo!

kabe1:
Beautiful!!

giles14:
this is laudable.

The BDF's continuing modernisation is impressive. Tanks and helicopters are next.
Rumour has it the fighter jet acquisition will also be restarted, this time with a competition between SAAB Gripen C vs KAI F-50.

Seen this morning: more Piranha IIIC 8x8 vehicles being delivered to Botswana.

The Botswana Defence Force has ordered 45.

LTGEN:
You represent the very worst of the stereotypical South African why don't you buzz off .

[sarcasm] Oh! Woe is me! How ever shall I redeem myself from this opprobrium? [/sarcasm]

LTGEN:
Oh Shut up and grow up.

[sarcasm] Consider me appropriately chastened by this witty, erudite and mature put down.[/sarcasm]

LTGEN:
I wasn't telling you anything , if you read my comments , one more time ,I commended South Africa for acquiring the HELIOS , I tried to kill two birds with one stone , there were two different comments where it was stated that Nigeria did not buy or sought a donation for these helicopters , that was what I was responding to.
Not everything is a fight between S'Africa and Nigeria , I want S'AFRICA to kick ass in Mozambique .

Then respond directly to the people who made those comments.
Again, South Africa does not need commendation for anything, as SA has not acquired the choppers. A private company did.

LTGEN:
This is the exact opposite of what NIGERIA currently needs right now , were Nigeria to even accept such a gift or buy such silly helicopters it would mean corrupt practices have reared its ugly head:
What NIGERIA needs :
MI-171 E - Because it has Troop carrying capabilities , NAF pilots are already trained on it so there is no need to send Pilots abroad for expensive lessons.
When the NA sets up it NA Aviation wing it should be for a helicopter that is still being manufactured and will have the ability to purchase spare parts .
Good Luck to South Africa and Mozambique on their purchase , NIGERIA should concentrate on the MI-171e and the Augusta 139 ARMED VERSION .

And you're telling me all this why? Do you see a single mention of Nigeria in what I posted?
What does South Africa need good luck for? Paramount Group, a private company bought the helicopters for its clients and for its helicopter flight training academy.

Paramount Group scooped over 30 ex-UK military Gazelles on an auction.

Two of them have already been sold and delivered to the Mozambique Air Force this month.

SA341B now registered FA-083 (WA1966) (ex-ZB673) and SA341B, new registration FA-085 (WA1435) (ex-XX445) were both spotted in Nacala Airport, Moz.

The rest of the machines, in excellent mechanical condition, are being readied for export from the UK.

shadowprimezero:
Have no idea how so many ended up there. Lol, the gun seems to be a status symbol with the CO

Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Chile bought some. Maybe others like Serbia.

shadowprimezero:
This is the first time I've seen it in the wild.

Another pic of it in the wild, also Venezuela Spec Ops.

Toju200:
they do fly in pairs unfortunately they didn't this time not even with ISR .

I know they sometimes fly in pairs. I was asking why this isn't always done, especially on a combat sortie in the badlands.

ugo4u:
You don't just scramble Jets in pairs for the sake of it. Many factors have to be considered; type of mission, availability of aircrafts, enemy capabilities, weather, cost etc
Jets usually fly in pairs when there are multiple targets to attack simultaneously.

Nobody does it for the sheer heck of it. It's doctrine and standard operating procedure.

If it's NAF doctrine to fly single, say so and we can have a debate about its efficacy.
If it's a question of resources, again say so, and that's another discussion.
If you don't know, no need to jump in defensively.

I asked this before and all I got was posturing:

Why is it that your aircraft - jets and helicopters- don't always fly in pairs on sorties?

When Alpha 475 went down, the partner could have relayed precise coordinates to command, relayed intel on enemy disposition etc, to aid the search and rescue.

kikuyu1:
Let's not. Firstly, what are the metrics of such a debate? Per capita spend per soldier? Battlefield experience, working platforms, etc,etc?
What would we even discuss? Nairaland being nairaland would posters accept facts and figures of a debate or just ISHYT all over the thread like pigeons and strut around like they won?

You sound like you want facts and logic? Here? Have you not learned anything?

kikuyu1:
Zero recoil LMG! Its only a 5.56 milly but still....

[url][https://youtu.be/R1zQuWpsYZYurl]

The Ultimax uses a constant recoil mechanism to stay stable. It works!

The latest variant,the Surefire MGX is a modular LMG weighing 4kg with the same constant recoil system. Its changeable from 5.56 to 6.8 mm allowing also different barrel lengths for different tactical situations.

[url][https://youtu.be/FXzn27vFb5Qurl]

There are only 2 prototypes. If it's as reliable as it seems the designer outdid himself! Everyone at HK, Kalashnikov and FN will be crying into their beer!

I'm not persuaded, yet. I like the 6.8 aspect. The no recoil principle means compromises elsewhere. The barrel, bolt etc...

Incidentally, having fired a few, I'm now a huge fan of 6.8mm. So much I think our new Saffer assault rifle and future lmg should be 6.8.

Won't stop me acquiring a pristine 7.62 R1/fal should such a thing correspond with my budget.

Randlord:
I think the logical way forward for the SA Navy is to simply continue with acquiring more of these ipvs, honestly with a range of 4000NM what extra capacity will the opvs bring. The fleet can be composed of 6 of these Biro ipvs and the Meko, the rationale of having an opv in between there is indulgent IMO. 6 of these will only cost R3bn if not less and they can have an all SA combat system, comms and radar, allowing exports (as Kabe alluded to they can be marketed as small corvettes and for only $35m each, very compelling value proposition for many African countries)

Interesting moniker, by the way.
I take the opposite view: we shouldn't have bothered with the IPVs. 12 OPVs greater than 80m is what the SA Navy needs to complement the frigates. Here's why:
1) our coastline means we patrol both Indian and Atlantic Oceans, so if we have 12, 4 will always be available meaning 2 on each coast;

2) If we had to scale down Biro, IPVs should've been postponed because as the Navy says, our rough seas necessitate longer vessels, meaning OPVs will extended range and better seakeeping;

3) speak to any sailor here and they'll tell you a longer vessel handles the length of waves in our seas better.

Personally, I don't understand why, if budgetary constraints meant BIRO had to be scaled back, it was the OPVs - preferred by the Navy - that were cut and not the IPVs.
And seeing this decision was taken under the corrupt Zuma administration, I'm even more befuddled.

Now I've heard it all!