NAF Expands Air-Ground Integration Training in North-East Operations
NAF Expands Air-Ground Integration Training in North-East Operations
The Nigerian Air Force has stepped up efforts to strengthen air-ground coordination in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East, as part of moves to improve operational effectiveness under Operation Hadin Kai.
This follows a strategic assessment visit by the Commandant of the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Jibia, to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force in Maiduguri.
The visit focused on reviewing the application of airpower doctrine in active operations and identifying ways to improve cooperation between air and ground forces.
Speaking during interactions with commanders and aircrew in the theatre, Jibia said the engagement was aimed at improving joint-force operations, boosting mission success, and ensuring that training and doctrine reflect battlefield realities.
He noted that air-ground integration remains central to effective air operations, particularly in intelligence gathering, surveillance, close air support, and precision strikes in support of troops on the ground.
Jibia added that the initiative aligns with the command direction of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, which prioritises targeted training, force development, and a professional culture built on discipline, adaptability, and situational awareness.
He also assured personnel that operational challenges raised during the visit would be reviewed to enhance future missions.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, welcomed the visit and pledged continued adoption of new doctrinal approaches, especially in air-ground integration and joint exercises.
The visit underscores the Air Force’s ongoing effort to align doctrine, training, and operational practice in support of security operations in the North-East.
