According to Defense news Nigeria

The Nigerian Air Force outnumber the combined Air Force of 16 ECOWAS member states by almost two to one and soon it will start to receive some desperately needed modern aircrafts....

The next generation aircrafts of the NAF include more AW109 "Power" attack helicopter, JF-17 multi-role fighter, A-29 Super Tucano s and AV500W unmanned attack helicopter. The AV500W is especially useful for border patrol and counter-terrorism operations.

Juchii:
The next generation aircrafts of the NAF include more AW109 "Power" attack helicopter, JF-17 multi-role fighter, A-29 Super Tucano s and AV500W unmanned attack helicopter. The AV500W is especially useful for border patrol and counter-terrorism operations.

are u sure it's NAF that is getting these drones.
They never made mention of it.
It's quite possibly the Army

Toju200:
are u sure it's NAF that is getting these drones.
They never made mention of it.
It's quite possibly the Army

I think it’s the army also

phazotron:




That's the consequence of not having 24/7 all weather isr capabilities to cover the entire theatre of operations from the sky

We don't need to keep risking our servicemens lives all the time in the name of reconnaissance and surveillance


Our airforce and intelligence services never start work

Others may have contrary opinion

But that's the truth

No b boots on the ground suppose dey do some of these things

Pls help my ignorance. The first part of your comment is something I don't get, is it even possible? The north east is the size of some countries. How many countries in sub saharan Africa have the ISR capabilities NAF has? Ground forces need training and equipment that is what is lacking the most. In Afghanistan for example there was nothing like 24/7hr ISR coverage. What the US did was to have small FOBs in hills and mountains along key routes to look out for abuses and IED planters

NA CS/VP III colored in wood-camouflage

24/7 ISR Coverage!!!! How na? How many aircraft would u need? How many pilots would be required?
Aircraft maintenance engineers nko?
How many images and how much footage would be produced?
How many skilled analysts will you have poring over the thousands of hours of footage with more being produced hourly?
Borno and Yobe are not backyard sized, Larger than Belgium in fact.
Fantasy has no place in war. No one has that capacity.

#Egypt- #ISIS release photo report of ambush near Sheikh Zuweid, North #Sinai, which killed 4 soldiers.

All 4 were wearing civilian clothes (2 military unit t-shirts I think) and only 1 AK among them (I think, difficult to determine).

The bodies were later mutilated.
ISIS release photo report of ambush near Sheikh Zuweid, North #Sinai, which killed 4 soldiers.

All 4 were wearing civilian clothes (2 military unit t-shirts I think) and only 1 AK among them (I think, difficult to determine).

The bodies were later mutilated.

Patented:
24/7 ISR Coverage!!!! How na? How many aircraft would u need? How many pilots would be required?
Aircraft maintenance engineers nko?
How many images and how much footage would be produced?
How many skilled analysts will you have poring over the thousands of hours of footage with more being produced hourly?
Borno and Yobe are not backyard sized, Larger than Belgium in fact.
Fantasy has no place in war. No one has that capacity.

Nigerian soldiers need better equipment and constant training and retraining.

It is not possible to cover a large area of operation like the NE with ISR 247.

Although we still need to continue building our ISR capabilities.

We need more and more MRAPs in the field.

Kabe2:


Nigerian soldiers need better equipment and constant training and retraining.

It is not possible to cover a large area of operation like the NE with ISR 247.

Although we still need to continue building our ISR capabilities.

[/b]We need more and more MRAPs in the field.[b]

Especially those with the 4x4 chassis very mobile and easy to maneuver in most terrain

Absolutely.

Kabe2:


Nigerian soldiers need better equipment and constant training and retraining.

It is not possible to cover a large area of operation like the NE with ISR 247.

Although we still need to continue building our ISR capabilities.

We need more and more MRAPs in the field.

#Bush masters

rka2:



COALITION SOF
THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS WORLD OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
by SOFREP
1 day ago
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SADF.
SADF.
It is common knowledge that warfare has greatly evolved in our times: from the strategic to the operational and tactical levels, from training and equipment to mission statements and structure. Indeed, literally every facet of warfare has seen close to a complete doctrinal overhaul.

A good number of countries across the globe have firsthand experienced the effects of this military evolution. Since the end of WWII, military engagements have grown smaller in scope; they have also become more rapid. International humanitarian law, the body of law that governs war, has also become stricter. The resultant atmosphere has created a world that trembles at the mention of an interstate military confrontation.

Individual military operations, save for those sanctioned by the UN, have striven to great lengths to keep a low engagement profile. Nations have opted to greatly minimize the size of their fighting units and accelerate the development and capabilities of the individual soldier — both in equipment and skill. Effective battle units have become smaller and more versatile. They have acquired delicate battlefield maneuverability and the ability to maintain a zero trace signature.

And the name that we give to these small fighting units, whose respective nations have invested in and greatly developed, is Special Operations Forces.


A member of the Kenyan Army 40th Ranger Strike Force.
Africa has been lagging behind in the development of Special Operations Forces, compared to the rest of the world. However, in the last few decades, this is drastically changing due to mutating threat matrices. Al-Qaeda affiliated extremism and terrorism, coupled with a number of sociopolitical related skirmishes, has caused an accelerated demand for specialist security personnel to deal with them.

South Africa: Many in Johannesburg are going hungry
This article will delve into the state of Special Operations Forces in Africa. It will look at their funding, training, operations and accomplishments.

SOF units in Africa have been around for close to 40 years. Starting in the 1970s some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa took the initiative to invest in Special Ops development.

Of late, other African countries have found themselves developing SOF capabilities. In some countries SOF capabilities have grown greatly. Other countries are still trying to figure out the basics, from funding and training to areas of application.

I have taken time to do some digging on the state of SOF development of some Sub-Saharan African countries. I have seen and experienced first hand the capabilities and wide applications of Special Operations. I have come to stand in awe of the smallest of details — perhaps the reason I’m always championing for their development — particularly in Africa. This article will hopefully draw a perfect portrait of the current situation.


In the three regional economic centers of Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, Special Operations have received a deeper appreciation. In the South African Military (SADF), the Kenyan Military (KDF), and the Nigerian Military (NAF), SOF establishments have seen accelerated development in the last two decades: Good funding, world-class training, real-life operations and experiences, honorable accomplishments (some classified others available from open sources), robust growth in numbers and related equipment, etc. It has been quite a ride for the SOF establishments of these three countries.

SOF development in most other Sub-Saharan African countries is yet to achieve notable growth in almost all areas, when compared to the three aforementioned countries. In some cases this is because of a relative lack of applicable areas for SOF development, except as security details of the ruling political elites; in others it is because of varying military doctrines and related service definitions.

In some of these countries, SOF establishments exist in a very basic form. Their tactical training is slightly more robust than the average military academy’s basic training, for example, it may include some elements of Ranger School and Airborne School. Special Operations troops get a basic understanding of Special Reconnaissance (SR), Counterinsurgency (COIN), Close Quarters Combat (CQC), Survival Escape Resistance and Evasion (SERE), and tactical first aid.

Some countries like Ghana, Cameroon, Botswana, Uganda, Angola, Mali, and Zimbabwe, have some impressive, but elementary, formations with superb tactical capabilities and considerable maneuverability. They act as well-kitted infantry force-multipliers. The majority have seen action mostly in home-grown skirmishes. Some have had impressive campaigns, others have not been so lucky.

The majority of these countries’ “Special Units” are bred from their militaries’ respective Armies. Apparently it is cheaper, in terms of resources and equipment, to raise a Special Unit within a military’s Army in Africa.

On the other hand, building a naval or an air force Special Unit comes with its limitations due to the unavailability of mission-specific equipment in most of the navies and air forces of Sub-Saharan countries. Although some, like the Ghanaian military, have managed to build a tactical unit in its Navy, they remain elementary. They can never come anywhere close to the doctrinal definitions of the British Special Boat Service (SBS) or the Nigerian Navy’s SBS.

In the next part, I’ll talk about the Special Ops establishments of the militaries of the South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. I will look at their training, operations, and perhaps a glimpse of what the future looks like for them.

Editor’s note: This article was written by Roberts Mwenda, a Military, Defense and Security Consultant specializing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mwenda has a degree in International Relations & Diplomacy from the University of Nairobi

Wow! Not common for Westerners,especially Americans to acknowledge or even know non Western,more so 3rd world specop units. This is a first,though the writer is Kenyan

#PressBriefing

UPDATE ON ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA OPERATIONS

1. Following our routine update on various operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, I will brief you this morning accordingly. It will cover COVID-19, operation Delta Safe, economic sabotage and summary of some other operations.

PREPAREDNESS ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2. Recall that at the commencement of Armed Forces of Nigeria's intervention in the containment of COVID-19 pandemic, it made available 21 medical facilities to be used as isolation and treatment centres. Additionally, 80 medical personnel were concentrated in Abuja and trained on COVID-19 case Management/Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), who were thereafter deployed to different geo-political zones of the Country and the FCT. Due to rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, it was considered necessary to train additional personnel in selected Hospitals across the Armed Forces of Nigeria to boost the capacity of medical personnel in the management of COVID-19.

3. The training package is a Train-the-Trainer, where the beneficiaries are expected to train other personnel at hospitals, related medical facilities and other places of deployment, to enhance capacity building in the management of the pandemic. Consequently, the Armed Forces of Nigeria COVID-19 case management/IPC training will be conducted in 8 designated military centres across the country, namely Headquarters 1 Division Kaduna, 6 Division Port Harcourt, 7 Division Maiduguri, 81 Division Lagos and Headquarters 82 Division Enugu. Others are Headquarters Eastern Naval Command Calabar, Headquarters Tactical Air Command Makurdi and Headquarters Guards Brigade Abuja. At the end of this training the total number will be 300 personnel.

OPERATION DELTA SAFE/ECONOMIC SABOTAGE

4. Under operation Delta Safe Area of responsibility, Nigerian Navy Ship DELTA conducted anti-illegal bunkering/Crude Oil Theft (COT) operations around Ugbodede, Uwakeno, Opumami, Banga Communities and around Escravos general area in Warri South LGA of Delta State. During the operations, the team located and dismantled illegal refining sites and a wooden boat with 3 coolers, 136 dugout pits, 201 surface metal storage tanks and 174 ovens laden with about 14,434 barrels of suspected stolen crude oil as well as 1,385,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined AGO. The storage facilities were dismantled. No arrest was made as operators of the illegal refining sites fled on sighting the team. Meanwhile, the illegal refining sites have been earmarked for swamp buggy operation.

5. Similarly, on 11 May 20, Forward Operating Base ESCRAVOS intercepted 3 large wooden boats around Madangho and Sara Creek in Warri South LGA of Delta State. The boats were laden with about 12.6 barrels of suspected stolen crude oil and 43,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO. Equally, on 12 May 20, the team discovered 7 refining units, 13 metal storage tanks and 4 dugout pits with about 440.3 barrels of stolen crude oil and 180,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO. The boats, items and products discovered in the course of the operation were impounded.

6. In the same vein, on 11 May 20, Forward Operating Base IBAKA patrol team around Effiat Waterways intercepted an abandoned wooden boat laden with 310 x 50kg bags of foreign parboiled rice suspected to be smuggled from the Republic of Cameroon. Similarly, on 14 May 20, the Base patrol team intercepted an abandoned medium size wooden boat laden with about 67 drums of products suspected to be PMS around Enwang Creek. The seized bags of foreign parboiled rice, boat and drums of suspected PMS are currently in Forward Operating Base IBAKA custody.

7. In another development, on 15 of May 2020, a Chinese vessel, MV HAILUFANG II was attacked by pirates off the Coast of Cote D' Ivoire. The pirates took control of the vessel and directed the vessel towards Nigerian Waters. The vessel had 18 crew members comprising Chinese, Ghanaians and Ivorians. The Nigerian Navy was alerted of the pirate attack and immediately, the Nigerian Navy Ship NGURU was dispatched to intercept the vessel. On interception of the vessel at about 140 nautical miles south of Lagos Fairway Buoy, the pirates refused to comply to the orders of the Nigerian Navy Ship, hence the Nigerian Navy had to conduct an opposed boarding of the vessel. All the ship crew were safely rescued, while the 10 pirates were also arrested.

OTHER OPERATIONS

8. Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria operating in various theatres across the Country recorded tremendous successes within the week under review. In Operation LAFIYA DOLE, several members of the Boko Haram Terrorists/ISWAP fighters and senior commanders were neutralized and their logistics facilities, gun trucks and other structures destroyed as well as recovery of weapons. These occurred in air strikes and other offensive operations executed across the theatre of operation. Twenty (20) BHT/ISWAP Terrorists were killed and 6 AK-47 rifles, 520 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and five 36 Hand Grenades were recovered.

9. In Operation HADARIN DAJI, the Air Component, neutralized 27 armed bandits and destroyed some of their dwellings along the Nahuta-Doumborou Corridor on the border between Katsina and Zamfara States in air strikes. While in Operation WHIRL STROKE, raid operations on bandits’ hideouts in Benue and Nasarawa States led to neutralization of 2 bandits of the notorious Gana’s gang with others fleeing with various degrees of gunshot wounds, including the Gana. Seven members of Bassa militia were arrested in Kpelebewa Village in Nasarawa State. Items recovered in the operations include; 4 locally fabricated machine guns, 3dane-guns, 12 locally-made rifles, cartridge firing pistols and 2 locally fabricated cartridge guns. Other are; 4 revolver pistols, 2 cartridge pistols, 58 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 57 x 7.62mm Special Ammunition, 2 motorcycles, 2 camouflage, a generator set and a Bag of Gunpowder as well as assorted charms among others items. Bandits and militias neutralized within this period stands at 29.

10. The Military High Command congratulates all the gallant troops of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and personnel of other security agencies involved in various operations across the country. Furthermore, the professionalism and dexterity of the Nigerian Navy Ship Nguru is hereby commended. It equally appreciates the general public for providing credible information that facilitated the success of various operations. The troops are encouraged to remain focused on eliminating the enemies of the country, while the general public is requested to continue to provide credible information in furtherance of our national security.

JOHN ENENCHE
Major General
Coordinator
Defence Media Operations
21 May 2020

http://defenceinfo.mil.ng/?p=4541

Even the best trained, best equipped forces in the world gets ambushed. US lost several soldiers due to IED attack and then ambush in Iraq, Russia lost lot's of good men to same in Afghanistan. Israel was dealt with by hezbollah using the same tactic. It is a common tactic used by militants when they are fighting more equipped forces. The only thing that can be done is to train troops on how to minimize casualties if they find themselves in that kind of condition.

#Libya- ICYMI:
A photo purportedly showing one of the Pantsir S-1/SA-22 Greyhound that was destroyed near #Sirte on a KAMAZ-6560 8x8 truck chassis instead of the MAN SX 45 8x8 configuration (which is the model associated with the #UAE and all ones seen so far in country).

Kabe2:


I have never been in that position, and I cannot claim to understand the trauma he is currently under, but that kind of video can demoralize the entire army fighting in the North-East.

You're doing more for BHT than anything their own propaganda can ever achieve.

Don't forgot that the terrorists have been on the back foot.

the action is definitely wrong. Its only the reason that can explain something, maybe he lost a close pal in his unit, who he's been fighting alongside for years. I don't know how much NA psychologically prepares their soldiers, if he is not prepared to see his close friend torn apart, he can be heavily traumatized and begin to question the reason he is even fighting. war is beyond the excitement we see in pictures.

Faithful007:
the action is definitely wrong. Its only the reason that can explain something, maybe he lost a close pal in his unit, who he's been fighting alongside for years. I don't know how much NA psychologically prepares their soldiers, if he is not prepared to see his close friend torn apart, he can be heavily traumatized and begin to question the reason he is even fighting. war is beyond the excitement we see in pictures.

You can never be prepared, for what you will encounter in battle, there is nothing like getting use to it, every attack, ambush is a whole different experience.

Faithful007:
the action is definitely wrong. Its only the reason that can explain something, maybe he lost a close pal in his unit, who he's been fighting alongside for years. I don't know how much NA psychologically prepares their soldiers, if he is not prepared to see his close friend torn apart, he can be heavily traumatized and begin to question the reason he is even fighting. war is beyond the excitement we see in pictures.

Well spoken bro! Our Soldiers are under-equipped leading to some being demoralized but our Military need to ask themselves WHO ARE THE MOLES AMONG THEM? Me I am asking why no snergy between the Army and the Airforce?

AraduF90:


Well spoken bro! Our Soldiers are under-equipped leading to some being demoralized but our Military need to ask themselves WHO ARE THE MOLES AMONG THEM? Me I am asking why no snergy between the Army and the Airforce?

Because the CDS is not in the lead in fighting this war. Every chief is trying to gain spotlight of what he is achieving with his 'army' which I believe is just to keep their office and for the politics of the future. They are each fighting their little wars while the CDS is just a ceremonial head

Fynline:


Because the CDS is not in the lead in fighting this war. Every chief is trying to gain spotlight of what he is achieving with his 'army' which I believe is just to keep their office and for the politics of the future. They are each fighting their little wars while the CDS is just a ceremonial head

Abi??

kikuyu2:


Wow! Not common for Westerners,especially Americans to acknowledge or even know non Western,more so 3rd world specop units. This is a first,though the writer is Kenyan

well Kenya really shouldn't ehmm!!!! Be I think there, if you'd ask me in the most humble way.

bidexiii:
#Bush masters

really tired of seeing this hilux .the army should face out this eyesores from the NE theatre.

giles14:
really tired of seeing this hilux .the army should face out this eyesores from the NE theatre.

Not only you bro; it’s going to take years before the MRAPs/APC will go round for frontline troops.

bidexiii:


Not only you bro; it’s going to take years before the MRAPs/APC will go round for frontline troops.

but if the army See's it as an emergency they can get the likes of innoson,NTC ,PAN ,Annamco etc to work with proforce to deliver atleast 500 unit of the ARA mrap within a year.

I strongly believe they is no commitment from the army to face out those light skins from NE.

Patented:
24/7 ISR Coverage!!!! How na? How many aircraft would u need? How many pilots would be required?
Aircraft maintenance engineers nko?
How many images and how much footage would be produced?
How many skilled analysts will you have poring over the thousands of hours of footage with more being produced hourly?
Borno and Yobe are not backyard sized, Larger than Belgium in fact.
Fantasy has no place in war. No one has that capacity.

It is possible

Not cheap but possible

Air dominance is something that must be desperately addressed

Or else bodies will keep falling

AraduF90:


Well spoken bro! Our Soldiers are under-equipped leading to some being demoralized but our Military need to ask themselves WHO ARE THE MOLES AMONG THEM? Me I am asking why no snergy between the Army and the Airforce?

This is one of the pertinent questions many pple on this platform don't remember to ask. No b only army go solve this problem

There's no synergy BTW both

Like I said earlier no b army suppose dey do some of these ops

Where are our Intel agencies?

giles14:
but if the army See's it as an emergency they can get the likes of innoson,NTC ,PAN ,Annamco etc to work with proforce to deliver atleast 500 unit of the ARA mrap within a year.

I strongly believe they is no commitment from the army to face out those light skins from NE.

I believe Nigeria has a country is rich but the Army budget can’t do that in a single year. Another thing is our military budget is too small for a country facing serious security threats.
Only the federal government can come to there bail. They can spread it over a period of four years getting like 100-200 of MRAPs/IFV over the period of four years.
It’s just about planning and the will .

Juchii:
According to Defense news Nigeria

The Nigerian Air Force outnumber the combined Air Force of 16 ECOWAS member states by almost two to one and soon it will start to receive some desperately needed modern aircrafts....

ha! You outnumber Aircowas? And you are happy? Nigeria the giant of Africa, the same Nigeria that sponsored Russian jet fighters with Cuban pilots during the bush wars in South Africa (read the book diplomatic soldiering by Joe Garba Nigerian foreign minister during Murtala), the same Nigeria that declared Barclay's bank persona non grata, the same Nigeria that launched the first African satellite into space, Nigeria the powerhouse of African economy, you say we outnumber ecowas and we try? Ha! You are not a man of great expectations. The problem is most of the military enthusiasts here self don't have great expectations. They will even defend it if Nigerian army choose to paint keke na Pepe in bush colours and ride straight to the front line.

They seem to forget who we are. We are not midgets, we defend ecowas, ecowas countries do not need jet planes if Nigeria is what it used to be. These one came here to compare Nigeria with Cotovoire so that he can massage his conscience.

S400:


Nigerian army dont need this kind of coward , social media starlet soldiers . I hope they will make an example of him . this kind of video is more effective than all boko haram videos propaganda .

information warfare is very important against guerrillas, terrorists and even in classic wars

The irony is that the British army hanged/shot hundreds of their soldiers on charges of cowardice which were actually cases of shell shock .

Decades later the British army apologized and asked for forgiveness . Later on the use of word ' shell shock ' was banned to hide their guilt .

If the guy was in a firefight , than matters r different

But since the guy was in a ied explosion therefore things r not same.

No sane soldier will rant against his coas unless he lost it completely . The last thing anyone can accuse him is of being a coward.

A human mind is fragile, like flour , mould it , twist it on ur whims

Just to put into context

Do you know how sound played on a unwilling victim can render the victim more pliable to brainwashing or if one wants render the victim completely mad within one hour or so .

Won't share details for obvious reasons but my intent is to show how fragile a human mind is and hence stress not to judge based on emotions as in this case there is enough circumstantial evidence to prove otherwise. Cases of shell shock r very common in a warzone.

You said
" information warfare is very important against guerrillas, terrorists and even in classic wars "

I agree
But let me play the devil's advocate here

We are willing to create space for foolish citizens who r dumb and idiotic enough to fall prey to information warfare from terrorists no less but we r not willing to provide the necessary space to soldiers who r victims of war, just because we r not aware of the extreme psychological damage , forget about physical injuries that a unfortunate soldier encounters during his duties. Damage to the mind is worse than damge to the body . Just because we can't see it doesn't mean everything's ok .


Note : I agree with u regarding the OPSEC part , hence I removed that portion from ur quote.

phazotron:



It is possible

Not cheap but possible

Air dominance is something that must be desperately addressed

Or else bodies will keep falling

What exactly do you mean by air dominance?


Does BH/ISWAP have any flying platform?

What am I missing here?

SerikinGamo:


What exactly do you mean by air dominance?



Does BH/ISWAP have any flying platform?

What am I missing here?

No b air superiority I dey talk about

Its about being able to monitor what's going on in most of that area continuously

Our ground units are stretched because of the large land mass

That's where the "eyes in the sky" concept of using drones to carry out 24/7 all weather Intel/surveillance/striking capabilities so we don't have to overburden and keep risking and losing our service men week in week out

How can we monitor their movements if we don't have the ability to constantly watch the theater most of the time if not all the time?

Yes its a large area but we can cover most of it if not all