Thread by @DefenseNigeria

Question of the day :

How long will it take for an air launched missile that has a maximum velocity of 950mph and to hit a target 11 kilometres away?

The arrival of the JF-17 Thunder and subsequently A-29 Super Tucano brought a unique kind of challenge that Boko Haram/ISWAP has not confronted since the insurgency began..a challenge that is existential in nature.

STANDOFF ATTACK CAPABILITY

Standoff precision strike is the ability to attack targets from distances far beyond visual and audio range. Paired with an effective strategy aimed at high value targets, long range precision is one of the most effective tool available to NAF theatre commanders.

The procurement of precision guided munitions (PGMs) radically enhanced what the NAF could achieve in the battlespace. One JF-17 can strike dozens of individual targets with pinpoint accuracy without needing to visually ID the target.

The arrival of the A-29 with its far..

deadlier compliment of PGMs made it worse for the insurgents.

PGMs follows one of two approaches: Stand in strikes employ aircraft to fly far above the flight envelop of tripple A fire and release munitions like the GBU laser guided bombs to targets with pin point accuracy.

Standoff strike attack targets from a distance by launching long range missiles a dozens or more miles away from the target.

The NAF is currently the only service that operates long range standoff munitions. Bolstering it's strike capacity.

Yes, it is simplistic to think that lobbing a missile long ranges will renders penetrative airstrikes with dumb bombs useless.

Both standoff and penetrative strike capabilities are necessary. The NAF has done a remarkable job of working out scenarios that has a combination

of that which works from inside and that which works from outside … a balance of penetrating and standoff strike forces. As a matter of fact the vast majority of NAF strikes are stilm bt penetrate strikes, carried out by legacy Alpha jet, F-7Ni fighters and Aero L-39s.

these are legacy aircafts that must approach targets closely enough to deploy ordnance. Increasing the probability they will be detected from a long way off, affording the enemy the time needed to prepare for incoming or change locations

By contrast, stand-off PGMe eliminates an enemy’s ability to respond. If you are wondering how five top ISWAP commanders were killed in a 14 day span, some of them just days apart, now you know. They most likely never saw it coming.

However the NAF still priotizes penetrative strikes regardless of the platform. The JF-17, Alpha jets, F-7Ni...all use General Purpose Bombs for 80% of their strikes. and it will remain so for a very long time.

Been asked on numerous occasions why dont we see the PGMs

touted about on the JF-17 and Super Tucanos. "If we truly have them as you claim why dont they use it?"

So many arm chair generals in Nigeria. They want photos. The NAF is not in the business of inviting the press for photo ops before a sortie.

On a serious note, Success in warfare comes down to inflicting overwhelming attacks against enemy targets. Sustaining such operations demands an affordable means to conduct strikes. Nigeria has a stock of just 400 GBU-12 laser guided bombs for example. In a fiscally

..challenging period the NAF must consider the effectiveness, as well as the cost of using standoff PGMs that cost $25,000 apiece on Toyota 4x4 trucks and motorcycles or firing positions. It is simply a matter of weapons cost.

Affordability is a critical consideration, given requirements to attack hundreds or thousands of targets. Destroying a $3,000 ISWAP truck or motorcycle can cost half a million dollars in one sortie.