Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar

Personnel of the Nigerian Air Force, on Thursday in Kaduna displayed various fabricated items, developed to support local repair and maintenance of aircrafts and armaments.

The fabrications were part of the research works of seven units under the Air Force Training Command, which organised the show tagged: `Inter-Group Research and Development Competition 2016.’

Some of the items displayed included aircraft fuel injection system, engine stand, electronic display and GSM display boards, high sensitive gas leakage detector, aircraft flap symmetry integrity tester, multiple power tester, carbon brushes, and battery power cord.

The Commandant, Nigeria Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, Air Cmdr. Musibau Soladoye, lauded the initiative.

Soladoye said that it was in line with the current thinking of “localising the production of critical military equipment and logistics.”

He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, had charged the military to “evolve viable mechanisms of near-self sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production.”

Soladoye, a special guest at the event, said the research and development forum was initiated by the Chief of Air Staff to meet the challenges of human capacity and technological development in the force.

“It is evident from what we have seen that the training command has made very giant strides towards research and development.

“This is an indication of NAF commitment to self reliance by producing high-tech military equipment, which could be projected further on a global scale.

“Furthermore, this will lead to revenue generation and contribute to the economic development and national security of the country,” he said.

In his message, the Air Officer Training Command, Kaduna, AVM Ahmed Wakil, said that the competition was part of a robust training of personnel to enhance their professional capacity.

“This competition is aimed at creating a culture of self reliance and effective management of resources through innovation and ingenious engineering to meet the operational needs of the NAF.”

Wakil, who was represented by Air Cmdr. Remigius Ekeh, said the unit had also carried out “in-depth research for the design and production of specialised equipment and tools such as medicals and communications.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the competition, Group Capt. Ahmad Shinkafi, said a panel of assessors, led by the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Nigeria Defence Academy, would select the best projects.

Shinkafi said that at the end of the event, the best three entries would be recognised and awarded prizes.

NAN reports that at the end of the competition 33 Logistics Group emerged the overall winner, Aeromedical Hospital Group was second while 303 Flying Training School Kano, came third