President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Kaduna inaugurated a
new drone developed by the Nigeria Air Force ( NAF ) for
intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The Unmarked Areal Vehicle, named Tsaigumi, was to boost the
capacity of the military.
“From the military perspective, the added capacity for
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance provided by the
TSAIGUMI will boost ongoing and future security operations.
“As this project moves into the next stage, which is mass
production, it would create employment and possibly generate
revenue as Nigeria’s first military export product,’’ the President
said.
According to him, the technological feat is an indication that
there is potential to apply the same innovative mindset to
addressing other areas of indigenous technological needs.
“While I commend the Nigerian Air Force for this accomplishment,
I enjoin you not to rest on this achievement but to strive harder
in your research and development efforts for greater
innovation.
“Be assured of this administration’s support towards the
attainment of greater technological milestones for our
nation.’’
Buhari reiterated the commitment and firm resolve of his
administration to take Nigeria to the next level of growth and
development.
“We remain determined to overcome all challenges to our security
and development as a nation. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to
join hands with us to make our collective dreams of greatness a
reality.’’
He added: “Government remains determined, despite numerous
challenges to bring about the much-needed CHANGE that will lift our
beloved nation to its rightful place as a major economic and
political force on the world stage.
“Part of our drive to achieve this goal is to enable enterprise
and the improvement of the quality of life through massive
improvement of national infrastructure.
“Accordingly, as I outlined in my New Year Day broadcast to the
nation, this Administration has designed series of key projects to
dramatically overhaul national infrastructure and overcome the
deficit in that vital area.
“The role of the military as an enabler of national development
cannot be overemphasized, as efforts would be futile if national
security is not first guaranteed.
“In this regard, let me once more commend the gallant men and
women of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies, for
their tireless efforts towards defeating Boko Haram and all other
threats to our nation’s security, thus ensuring that the government
can proceed with its developmental activity without hindrance.
“Let me again commend the Nigerian Air Force leadership for the
unprecedented feat it has attained on Research and Development.
“I am aware that the Air Force was the overall best in the
recently concluded 2017 National Technology and Innovation
Exposition under Research Institute category.
“Accordingly, its drive, determination and unwavering support
brought about numerous significant innovations, not least of which
is the TSAIGUMI which I am inducting today.
“It is indeed most gratifying that the Nigerian Air Force has
gone a step further than simply acquiring them, to developing
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle capabilities with indigenous
technology.
“This outstanding accomplishment, which we are gathered today,
holds promise of both military and economic benefit to the
nation.’’
Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar,
said the unmanned vehicle has a “mission range of 100 km, a service
ceiling at 15,000 feet and operational endurance of about 10
hours.’’
He pledged NAF support “to harness, promote, commercialise and
diffuse locally developed technologies for the production of
globally competitive goods and services that intensively utilise
Nigeria’s raw materials for national development.
“ This is necessary because it is through R&D that nations
technologically advance and enhance their productivity, spur
economic growth and address societal concerns such as health,
energy, environment, defence and security.
“Besides, to be effective and efficient in dealing with
contemporary security challenges posed by non-state actors, there
is the need to build capacity to develop smarter and highly
sophisticated indigenous platforms as well as compact and mobile
forces that use information technology to get real time
intelligence necessary for military operations.”
Sadiq added that the NAF Research and Development Centre
established in 2015, “has so far successfully repaired the CH-3A
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) that had been grounded for
over four months due to the lack of spares.
“Since its reactivation on 2nd January 2018, the UCAV has
conducted several missions which have positively impacted on our
Operations in the North East. As I speak, the UCAV is engaged in
combat missions in the North East.
“Only last week it acquired and destroyed Boko Haram Terrorists
and their equipment in the Sambisa general area.
“We have also tasked the centre to address gaps in specific
areas of operational needs of the Service.
“One such area of need has been that of enhancing NAF’s
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to
meet national security imperatives.
“In this regard, AFRDC has been charged to build capacity to
maintain all ISR platforms that are currently in the Service.
“Similarly, the AFRDC was tasked to operationalise the Gulma UAV
prototype taking into cognisance the peculiar challenges associated
with our operating environment.
“It is gratifying to state that the efforts in this direction
have, yielded positive results which include among others, the
production of the TSEGUMI UAV.’’
NAN
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Kaduna inaugurated a
new drone developed by the Nigeria Air Force ( NAF ) for
intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The Unmarked Areal Vehicle, named Tsaigumi, was to boost the
capacity of the military.
“From the military perspective, the added capacity for
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance provided by the
TSAIGUMI will boost ongoing and future security operations.
“As this project moves into the next stage, which is mass
production, it would create employment and possibly generate
revenue as Nigeria’s first military export product,’’ the President
said.
According to him, the technological feat is an indication that
there is potential to apply the same innovative mindset to
addressing other areas of indigenous technological needs.
“While I commend the Nigerian Air Force for this accomplishment,
I enjoin you not to rest on this achievement but to strive harder
in your research and development efforts for greater
innovation.
“Be assured of this administration’s support towards the
attainment of greater technological milestones for our
nation.’’
Buhari reiterated the commitment and firm resolve of his
administration to take Nigeria to the next level of growth and
development.
“We remain determined to overcome all challenges to our security
and development as a nation. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to
join hands with us to make our collective dreams of greatness a
reality.’’
He added: “Government remains determined, despite numerous
challenges to bring about the much-needed CHANGE that will lift our
beloved nation to its rightful place as a major economic and
political force on the world stage.
“Part of our drive to achieve this goal is to enable enterprise
and the improvement of the quality of life through massive
improvement of national infrastructure.
“Accordingly, as I outlined in my New Year Day broadcast to the
nation, this Administration has designed series of key projects to
dramatically overhaul national infrastructure and overcome the
deficit in that vital area.
“The role of the military as an enabler of national development
cannot be overemphasized, as efforts would be futile if national
security is not first guaranteed.
“In this regard, let me once more commend the gallant men and
women of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies, for
their tireless efforts towards defeating Boko Haram and all other
threats to our nation’s security, thus ensuring that the government
can proceed with its developmental activity without hindrance.
“Let me again commend the Nigerian Air Force leadership for the
unprecedented feat it has attained on Research and Development.
“I am aware that the Air Force was the overall best in the
recently concluded 2017 National Technology and Innovation
Exposition under Research Institute category.
“Accordingly, its drive, determination and unwavering support
brought about numerous significant innovations, not least of which
is the TSAIGUMI which I am inducting today.
“It is indeed most gratifying that the Nigerian Air Force has
gone a step further than simply acquiring them, to developing
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle capabilities with indigenous
technology.
“This outstanding accomplishment, which we are gathered today,
holds promise of both military and economic benefit to the
nation.’’
Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar,
said the unmanned vehicle has a “mission range of 100 km, a service
ceiling at 15,000 feet and operational endurance of about 10
hours.’’
He pledged NAF support “to harness, promote, commercialise and
diffuse locally developed technologies for the production of
globally competitive goods and services that intensively utilise
Nigeria’s raw materials for national development.
“ This is necessary because it is through R&D that nations
technologically advance and enhance their productivity, spur
economic growth and address societal concerns such as health,
energy, environment, defence and security.
“Besides, to be effective and efficient in dealing with
contemporary security challenges posed by non-state actors, there
is the need to build capacity to develop smarter and highly
sophisticated indigenous platforms as well as compact and mobile
forces that use information technology to get real time
intelligence necessary for military operations.”
Sadiq added that the NAF Research and Development Centre
established in 2015, “has so far successfully repaired the CH-3A
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) that had been grounded for
over four months due to the lack of spares.
“Since its reactivation on 2nd January 2018, the UCAV has
conducted several missions which have positively impacted on our
Operations in the North East. As I speak, the UCAV is engaged in
combat missions in the North East.
“Only last week it acquired and destroyed Boko Haram Terrorists
and their equipment in the Sambisa general area.
“We have also tasked the centre to address gaps in specific
areas of operational needs of the Service.
“One such area of need has been that of enhancing NAF’s
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to
meet national security imperatives.
“In this regard, AFRDC has been charged to build capacity to
maintain all ISR platforms that are currently in the Service.
“Similarly, the AFRDC was tasked to operationalise the Gulma UAV
prototype taking into cognisance the peculiar challenges associated
with our operating environment.
“It is gratifying to state that the efforts in this direction
have, yielded positive results which include among others, the
production of the TSEGUMI UAV.’’
NAN
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/buhari-inaugurates-locally-made-drone-restates-commitment-to-security/