Pulse.ng : COAS tasks Army formations to ensure equipment serviceability

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, has charged all Army formations to leverage local capabilities, skills and competencies to ensure effective maintenance and serviceability of their equipment.

Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Training, Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, gave the charge during fire power demonstration and closing ceremony of Exercise Vulcan Glow IX, on Thursday in Kachia, Kaduna State.

The COAS expressed optimism that in the nearest future, Army’s various indigenous research and
development efforts would yield the desired results in furtherance of its operations.

He urged all the Army corps to ensure readiness through mission oriented training and sound equipment maintenance at all levels.

Lagbaja noted that the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery has continued to upscale its training activities which have impacted positively in the provision of effective fire support to the combat arms in various theaters of operations.

He also acknowledge the significant progress made by NACA in the repairs of various Artillery equipment as well as the commendable strides achieved in Research and Development.

“During my recent visit to the NASA, I had the opportunity to see these laudable efforts.

“It is my expectation that the observation from the field evaluation of the guns conducted during this exercise will further assist the Corps to improve its equipment serviceability state,” he said.

He also urged NACA to remain resolute and focused as they continue to support the combat arms in accomplishing their missions.

Earlier, the Commander Corps of Artillery, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, explained that excercise Vulcan Glow is NACA’s annual field training exercise.

He said the training was focused on planning, preparation, employment and deployment of artillery resources in all phases of conventional and unconventional warfare and other operations.

Kangye explained that the excercise was an opportunity to assess the combat readiness of artillery formations
and units as well as their capabilities and constraints in counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations.

On equipment serviceability, the commander said that the corps was aware of the complexities and dynamics of evolving security challenges and the difficulties associated with procurement of platforms.

This, he said, made NACA to evolve indigenous solutions to maintenance of guns and equipment, to enhance fire support to Nigerian Army operations.

Kangye assured that the observations made and lessons learned during excercise Vulcan Glow IX would be carefully and duly addressed.

“In this wise, concerted repair efforts by own personnel in collaboration with technical expertise from other military and civil institutions have yielded success in getting more platforms serviceable and available for operations.

“This year’s Exercise was unique as it was conducted with the support of the Nigerian Army Space Command.

“Under Project GUARDIAN, the Command TB2 Drone activated its artillery fire correction interface for
selection of targets, adjustment and registration in coordination with the ground observers utilizing a satellite radio communication with the base station in Kaduna.

“This is the first time such air to ground integration was made to the NA in either conventional or asymmetric warfare,” Kangye said.

NAN reports that there was fire power demonstration, field maneuvers and drills during the event. (NAN)