The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently took delivery of the second two of four DA62MPP surveillance aircraft from Diamond Aircraft from Wiener Neustadt. The reception ceremony took place at the General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport south of Ilorin in Kwara State.
The airport is also home to the 303rd Medium Airlift Group. Speaking during the ceremony, NAF Air Vice Marshal Tajudeen Yusuf said the DA62MPP (Multi Purpose Platform) and its sensors would enhance the NAF’s ability to support combat operations against Islamist insurgents such as Boko Haram. NAF Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet explained that the procurement process began about two years ago when funding was secured for four such aircraft and the first two models were delivered between February and July 2023. These have since been deployed to “support ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability in the country’s crisis areas”.
The commander of the “303s”, AVM Tajudeen Yusuf, pointed out in his speech that “the acquisition of the DA-62 aircraft is due to their ability to carry out robust missions to support or optimize combat operations. The DA-62MPP equipment will breathe new life into the unit in Ilorin while enhancing its operational activities.” He also emphasized that more needs to be done to “completely decimate and drive out the last terrorists who are still hunting soft targets.” https://militaeraktuell.at/70-jahre-offiziersausbildung-beim-bundesheer/ The equipment of the four aircraft – the last two were flown over to Lagos via Ghana on 6 October – with the tactical identifiers NAF260 to NAF263 is likely to be designed around the Hensoldt Argos-II-HDT electro-optical gimbal. In addition to the counter-insurgency role mentioned above, the aircraft can also be used to monitor illegal activities such as fish theft, oil smuggling in the Niger Delta region, pollution control in ecologically sensitive marine regions and border patrols.
Diamond aircraft in combination with weapon carriers
are nothing new to the Nigerian authorities. The predecessor model DA42MPP Guardian was already operated by the Nigerian Presidential Ministerial Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMMS) and the NAF, respectively, and a few years ago, its Chief of Operations, AVM Rufus Ojuawo, mentioned to the author at an IQPC fighter conference that the procurement of additional surveillance capacities using further Diamond aircraft was being considered. However, according to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, this would be in conjunction with weapons carriers such as three JF-17s (Pakistan) and twelve AH-1Zs (USA), which have since been procured, Leonardo M-346FA (Italy), three Chinese Wing Loong II fighter drones, twelve A-29 Super Tucano fighter trainers (Brazil) from Embraer and six T-129 ATtak combat helicopters (Turkey). According to Ojuawo, it was “painful” to see 45 minutes pass between the excellent reconnaissance provided by the Diamond aircraft, for example, and a weapon taking effect, which was far too long against the highly mobile Islamic “Toyota warriors”. There are also DA42MPPs in Ghana and Niger – the status of which is now unknown following various upheavals.
On the market since 2017
The DA62 MPP is based on the new DA62 twin-engine light aircraft for up to seven passengers and was unveiled at the Paris Air Show 2017. The aircraft is equipped with Garmin G1000 NXi glass cockpits and can perform various missions such as ISR, search and rescue (SAR), land and coastal surveillance, disaster management, infrastructure and environmental monitoring missions with one or two mission system operators. The all-composite platform features the latest tracking and sensor technology and today sets the benchmark as the most cost-effective, powerful and versatile flight platform in its class.
The DA62MPP was specially developed for transporting multifunctional airborne sensors such as EO/IR cameras, land and sea radar equipment weighing up to 50 kilograms under the fuselage, COMINT solutions (radio/mobile telephone reconnaissance including IMSI catcher, …), airborne laser scanners or large-format digital aerial cameras (up to 100 kilograms in the nose). Powered by two in-house Austro Engine AE330 piston engines with 180 hp each, which can be operated with Jet A1 or diesel fuel, the aircraft has a maximum range of 2,385 kilometers or up to ten hours with an additional tank and up to 710 kilograms of payload, according to Diamondn. It is particularly suitable for use in “unfriendly” areas because a special exhaust system on the top mixes fresh air with engine exhaust gases, thus minimizing both the noise signature and heat radiation relevant for IR sensors. Satellite communication can take place via L-, Ku- or Ka-band antennas.
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