July 8, 2025 | Abuja
In a significant move to advance regional defence cooperation and indigenous aerospace development, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has cemented a fresh partnership with the Ethiopian Air Force (FDRE AF), focused on co-producing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), training, and technical collaboration.
The engagement, which took place from July 1–3, 2025, was led by the NAF Director of Training, Air Commodore Ali Hussaini Idris. The Nigerian delegation visited several key Ethiopian military aviation institutions including the Air Force Headquarters, Aviation Depot Maintenance Centre (ADMC), Dejen Aviation Engineering Industry (DAVI), and the Air Force Academy. The visit coincided with Ethiopia’s celebration of its 90th year of military aviation.
Central to the discussions was the enhancement of joint capabilities in the maintenance and overhaul of strategic platforms such as L-39 jets and Mi-series helicopters. The two nations also explored collaborative training initiatives, doctrinal exchanges, and plans for the co-development of a fully African-built UAV.
Speaking on the engagement, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, emphasized that, “Such engagements underscore the NAF’s unwavering commitment to enhancing intra-African cooperation, fostering indigenous capabilities, and boosting operational effectiveness through strategic alliances.”
The NAF also invited Ethiopian Air Force commanders to attend advanced courses at Nigeria’s Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre and the Air War College. The partnership marks a bold step towards promoting African-led innovation in aerospace technology, aimed at boosting the continent’s self-reliance in defence production and strengthening continental military interoperability.
This development further underscores Nigeria’s growing leadership in pan-African defence diplomacy and its readiness to harness collaboration as a tool for continental security and progress.
