AIR DEFENCE
I would argue or assume this is a capability gap that our adversaries understand. The growth of Nigeria's anti-aircraft artillery guns and missiles have remained relatively static the 1980s.
Make no mistake, our current crop of anti-aircraft artillery poses a crippling threat to aircraft that fly low and slow. These are not manually loaded cranked by hand type of weapons with a mechanical crosshairs with which to aim. Take the Shilka for example.
It is self propelled and radar guided. The prominent dome you see that can be folded down, Yes thats the radar. They are capable of acquiring, tracking and engaging low flying aircraf twith an effective range of 2,500 meters.
You might wonder why the Shilka is a prominent feature in the northeast. Thats because they can be used on a depressed trajectory with devastaing effect on enemy vehicles.
The ZSU 23-2 is no less dangerous. It is a The ZU-23-2, is a towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled.
It is a powerful weapons, intended for destruction of air targets within the range of 2500 m. In the event of an all out shooting war they will be used to protect surface to air missile sites and other high-value ground targets. There are about 350 ZSU 23 in active service.
The ROLAND Short Range Air Defence System (SHORAD) is Nigeria's only all weather self-propelled short-range air defense system.
It has a 9.2 kg fragmentation warhead, which contains 5 kg of explosives and an increased number of fragment. It has immune to electromagnetic and infrared jamming, is able to intercept armored helicopters, highly maneuverable support aircraft, and cruise missiles.
There assets offer a modicum of air defence capability against ill-equiped regional states, but are severely limited against a more powerful adversaries. Aircafts such as the Rafale and Mirage fighters typically fly above the missile envelop of these air defence systems.
Our air defense capabilities is severely limited as a result of incomplete airspace control, due to limitations in quality, air defence systems, command and communications deficiencies, and fighter interceptor shortfalls relative to territory.
Yes we have the Selenia radar system installed at Lagos International Airport, and similar system at Enugu, Kano, and Kaduna.
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