Nigerian soldiers in the shade of a Mali-bound Nigerian Air Force C130 Hercules plane
Mali-bound: Chinese-built trucks of the Nigerian Army, assembled and reconfigured in Nigeria
Made-in-Nigeria weapons from the stable of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria(DICON)
DAILY PUNCH
14 February, 2013
The Defence Headquarters has increased
the number of military personnel on
deployment to the African-led International Support Mission in Mali to 724.
A Defence Headquarters statement by the Director of Defence Information, Col. Mohammed Yerima, statement that the 724 troops comprised 424 personnel of the Nigerian Army and 300 Air Force personnel.
The Chief of Army Staff had said during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday that some of the soldiers penciled down for deployment to Mali were undergoing training in Sokoto and other training centres of the Army
Yerima said the DHQ had also ensured the deployment of heavy weapons, ammunition, vehicles and equipment. Yerima said the Nigerian Air Force already had two alpha jets and a M135 expected to provide cover for ground troops during operations from their operational base in Niamey, Niger.
He said, “Defence Headquarters has increased the number of Nigerian troops to the AFISMA. As at present the Defence Headquarters has deployed a total of 724 troops, made up of 300 Nigerian Air Force personnel and 424 Nigerian Army personnel.
“Also deployed are heavy weapons, ammunition, vehicles and equipment. “The Nigerian Air Force assets in the operation include two Alpha jets and one MI35 which will provide interdiction and close air support to ground troops; they are based in Niamey, Niger Republic. We will continue to provide you with updates as events unfold.”
Kudos to our NA and NAF doing what is necessary to help out in Mali with 724 troops deployed so far. I read elsewhere that Ghana is now having a company of 120 engineers lifted but are getting a ride from a British Army C-17.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/14/british-c-17-aircraft-transports-ghana-troops-heavy-equipment-to-help-in-mali/
Gen Beeg, I thought Ghana has the exact same C-17 in their air fleet. Why hitch a ride from the British?
What they have is a pair of EADS C295 planes which we acquired last year. Each can carry 71 troops and can fly straight to Bamako without refuelling.
@Beags, has NAF already taken delivery of some of the ordered 20 EADS C295 planes?