Thread by @DefenseNigeria

GOLDEN ERA.

Nigerian Navy of the 1982 vs 2022. Who takes the crown?

In 1982 the Nigerian navy was by far the best equipped surface fleet in sub-Saharan Africa. The tip of the spear of the Navy was the German built Meko Class guided missile frigate NNS Aradu. It was supported by a smaller frigate, NNS Obuma..

four corvettes of the Dorina and Erin’mi classes and the missile boats NNS Ekpe, NNS Ayam, NNS Siri, NNS Ekun. In addition was a capable force of minesweepers, seaward defence boats and patrol craft. NNS Aradu first fired a shot in anger in Liberia where they provided

..coastal artillery bombardment for Nigerian troops. By this time the Nigerian Navy was in steep decline. The OTOMAT anti-ship missiles equipping the Aradu and Ekpe classes were never subject to a life extension program and no new missiles were ever purchased.

The Exocet anti-ship missiles of the Siri class and the Aspide surface to air missiles of the Aradu suffered the same faith.

The year 2011 marked another era for the navy with a mission to revive the Nigerian Navy after decades of prolonged decline.

The Nigerian Navy in 2022 is five times larger, with 387 surface vessels and 62 aircafts and still growing. It is now considered the largest and one of the most capable in Sub Saharan Africa. The confidence in the NN is reflected in the rising number of foreign port visits.

In 2019 the Nigerian Navy received four foreign naval ships

US Navy USS Carson City
French Navy Ship Bouan
Indian Navy INS Tarkash
Spanish Centinela

In 2020 that number jumped to 9 foreign naval vessels

Brazilian Navy , Fragata Independencia

Italian frigate Antonio Marceglia

Greek Frigate

Danish Navy frigate HDMS Esbern Snare

French Frigate FS Germinal

Royal Navy HMS Trent.

Portuguese Vessel NRP Zaire

In 2021 the number jumped to 21. With the U.S. USS Hershel “Woody” Williams becoming the first US Navy ship to be permanently assigned to Africa, arrived in Lagos in August.

So who wins?

Nigeria’s most capable acquisitions come from two Chinese P18N Offshore Patrol Vessels NNS Centenary and NNS Unity, and two U.S Ex Hamilton Class vessels NNS Thunder and NNS Okpabana. They represent the most potent ships in the Navy now. Nigeria faces no conventional naval

threat from any of its neighbours and while the prestige of having missile frigates like the Aradu and a force of missile boats is attractive, Nigeria eschewed such an approach in favour of acquiring patrol vessels to secure its EEZ and to deal with maritime crimes.

In 2021 the Nigerian Navy changed its mind and announced its decision to aquire a guided missile destroyer from China and recently ordered two naval vessels from Turkey, they will all be armed with missiles.

In terms of firepower the Nigerian Navy of 1982 wins hands down.

NUMBERS.

The Nigerian Navy had 76 surface vessels in 1982. Today there are 397 surface vessels in the Navy. No contest.

NAVAL AVIATION.

Nigeria had modest anti-submarine warfare capability with a handful of Westland Lynx Mk.89 helicopters. But these were old times.

The Nigerian Navy has 16 shipborne Augusta helicopters.

Twenty six shore based helicopters consisting of AW109ES and Bell Rangers.

Adding to this is a new class of helicopters. In May 2020 the Nigerian Navy took delivery of four AW-139 medium twin turbine helicopter from Leonardo, designed with multi-role capability and flexibility of operation.

AW109 "surveillane helicopters.

NIMASA has its own fleet of 12 helicopters

Six maritime patrol planes

..and lots of drones.

No doubt who wins in the naval aviation department.

What sets the modern Nigerian Navy apart is its maritime domain awareness architecture. They are the most sophsiticated and extensive in Africa.

Verdict?

The Nigerian Navy is slowly clawing its way back to being a viable force capable of performing

critical missions in respect of EEZ surveillance. With its current inventory, the Nigerian Navy is capable of sustaining itself far more effectively than in the past when the prestige and lure of missile equipped vessels that overextended the resources available to the navy.