By Christel Odili
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully produced the first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of conducting intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and other strategic security roles. The UAV codenamed “Tsaigumi” was produced by NAF Aerospace Engineers in collaboration with UAVision of Portugal, under the leadership of Air Marshal Sadqiue Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS).
The Tseigumi was an improvement of the initially produced NAF UAV prototype referred to as Gulma. The latest NAF homegrown operational UAV was said to be useful for policing operations, disaster management, convoy protection, maritime patrol, pipeline and power line monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties. In addition, it could be deployed for the protection of wildlife, weather forecast and telecast. The Tsaigumi UAV could likewise be used for search and rescue, coastal monitoring and patrol of Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The UAV, which is capable of day and night operations, has an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours with a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km. It has a maximum take-off weight of 95kg and its payload is an electro-optic/infra-red camera system.
While performing the official induction of the UAV into the NAF, on 15 February at the NAF Base in Kaduna, the Special Guest of Honour, President Muhammadu Buhari, extolled the NAF research and development ingenuity that led to the production of the UAV noting that the technological feat of producing an operational UAV locally in Nigeria was unprecedented. President Buhari observed that the drive, determination and unwavering commitment of the current NAF leadership has brought about numerous innovations and inventions including the Tsaigumi UAV.
The President added that the attainment of the technological feat was an indication that Nigeria has the needed potential to surmount other technological needs.
“Indeed, this outstanding accomplishment holds promise of both military and economic benefits to the nation. From the military perspective, the added capacity for ISR provided by Tsaigumi UAV would undoubtedly boost ongoing and future security operations”, the President added. Further, President Buhari disclosed that as soon as the NAF UAV project moves into the next stage of mass production, it would create employment opportunities and generate revenue as Nigeria’s first military export product. He however promised his administration’s support towards the attainment of greater technological milestones for the nation.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said that the NAF would continue to support mechanisms to harness, promote, commercialize and diffuse locally developed technology for production of globally competitive goods and services that intensively utilize Nigeria’s raw materials not only for NAF and armed forces benefits but for national development. Consequently, Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed that the new UAV would mass produced and employed in theatre of operations across the country. He however called on the private sector to partner with the NAF to mass produce the UAV.
According to the CAS, the next stage of the NAF UAV production was towards the development of Nigeria’s first indigenous Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicle (UACV) already codenamed “ICHOKU”.
On his part, the Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed the willingness and readiness his administration to acquire some Tsaigumi UAV from the NAF, once the mass production commences. The Governor thanked the President for the deployment of military personnel in assisting the Police to quell the security challenges confronting the state.