In line with the drive of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to build a highly responsive and technologically advanced Nigerian Air Force (NAF), participants of Senior Course 48 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, witnessed firsthand the Service’s growing operational capabilities during a study tour to the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 2 in Katsina State on 13 May 2026.
The delegation, led by the Director, Department of Joint Studies, Brigadier General K Rabiu, was received by the Air Component Commander, Air Commodore CE Illoh, who briefed participants on ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the North West theatre.
During the visit, the participants were exposed to the strategic employment of air power, intelligence-driven precision strikes, and air-to-ground coordination in joint military operations, reflecting the CAS’ commitment to enhancing operational effectiveness through modern air assets and joint force synergy.
They were also conducted around operational facilities where they received detailed briefings on the capabilities of the NAF’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms and the T-129 ATAK Helicopter, both of which continue to play critical roles in precision strikes, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and close air support missions across various theatres of operation.
In a practical demonstration of combat readiness, the platforms later conducted ISR missions for the visiting officers, further showcasing the NAF’s rapid response capability and sustained operational tempo in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
Speaking during the visit, Brigadier General Rabiu commended the Nigerian Air Force under the leadership of the CAS for its professionalism, responsiveness, and operational successes, noting that the Service has significantly altered the dynamics of the conflict through timely and precise air interventions in support of ground forces.
The study tour formed part of AFCSC’s efforts to expose future military leaders to real-time operational environments and deepen their understanding of modern warfare and the critical role of air power in safeguarding national security.
