The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has graduated the pioneer Defence Space Agency (DSA) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Flying Course 1/2026, marking a significant step towards strengthening joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in Nigeria’s security operations.
The graduation ceremony, held at the 401 Flying Training School (401 FTS), Kaduna, underscored the growing collaboration between the NAF and DSA in developing indigenous expertise in unmanned aviation and enhancing operational effectiveness through technology-driven capacity development.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, the Chief of Training, NAF, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Yusuf Dari, commended the 401 FTS for its sustained contributions to aviation training over five decades.
Dari described the course as a practical demonstration of the Chief of the Air Staff’s Command Philosophy, particularly its emphasis on “Standardized Training and Mission-Focused Capacity Development.”
He urged the school to sustain realistic, relevant and technology-responsive training, while charging the graduands to uphold professionalism, safety and discipline in the discharge of their duties.
Representing the Chief of Defence Space Administration, the Deputy Chief of Defence Space Administration, Air Vice Marshal John Laoye, highlighted the increasing strategic importance of UAVs in contemporary security operations.
Laoye noted that unmanned aerial systems provide timely surveillance and enhanced situational awareness, enabling commanders to make informed operational decisions. He stressed, however, that the effective utilisation of the technology depends on the availability of professionally trained personnel.
He also called for sustained collaboration between the DSA and NAF to develop the human capacity required to deploy emerging technologies effectively in support of national security.
The graduation mark a further step in strengthening NAF–DSA cooperation and expanding Nigeria’s indigenous capacity in unmanned aviation.
It also reinforced the NAF’s commitment to standardised training, innovation and mission-focused capability development, while promoting inter-agency collaboration to enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of ongoing counter-insurgency and joint security operations across the country.
