17 June 2004 01:29
Russia, Israeli Consortia to Refurbish NAF Jets
ByLine: George Oji
Federal Government may have settled for a consortia of Russian and Israeli firms to refurbish and upgrade its fleet
of 23 grounded combat interceptor jets.
The MiG 21 fleets, have been grounded for more than ten years now, and are packed at the Tactical Air Command of the
Nigeria Air Force (NAF), Makurdi. The inability of the Federal Government to either refurbish the jets or outrightly
purchase new ones have negatively affected the air readiness and capability of NAF.
Successive administrations since the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida seem to have paid lip service to pressures
by the Airforce and the Defence Ministry to re-stream the fighters. The decision however to breath fresh life into the
jets was taken by President Obasanjo as part of his commitment to improve the capability of the military in the defence
of the nation's territory.
Defence Ministry officials revealed to THISDAY that the choice of the Russian manufacturer, the Russia Aircraft
Corporation to handle the refurbishment was in line with government's policy of dealing directly with source
manufacturers, since it guarantees steady source of supply for spare parts.
The Israelis are favoured because the Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) is known to possess some of world's best
avionics technology experts.
Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media. (allafrica.com)
[This Day (Nigeria) - AAGM] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
