Nigeria: Air Force ‘Gulma’ Yet to Be Deployed for Operations

Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday said its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), nick-named “GULMA” was yet to be deployed for operations.This is contained in a statement signed by Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, in Abuja.
The statement said that training of the UAV’s operators was currently ongoing.

It noted that what was unveiled by President Goodluck Jonathan, on Dec. 17, 2013 at Air Force Base, Kaduna, was a prototype, adding that its full scale production is in the making.The statement was reacting to a report which said the opportunity to locate the kidnapped girls was blown because the drone was not used.The report stated that last December, Nigeria unveiled a locally made drone at an Air Force base in Kaduna, although it had not flown since.

The story alluded to the fact that the Nigerian Air Force unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which could have been used by government to locate the girls had not flown.The statement noted that there was need, therefore, to put the record straight as it concerned the service’s UAV.It explained that the service after several years of research and development efforts was able to produce the first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle nick name “GULMA”.

It added that it was this achievement that was unveiled to the public by the President.

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