President Edgar Lungu has said that the Patriotic Front administration is committed to equipping the defence forces with modern equipment to enable them address new security challenges.
President Lungu said that the need for modern defence systems cannot be overemphasized in view of Zambia’s growing economy coupled with huge investments from local and foreign investors.
The Head of State was speaking when he officially opened the L 15 Simulator Training Centre at the Zambia Airforce – ZAF- in Lusaka. President Lungu launched the effective, safe and yet realistic training methods on highly computerized and technologically advanced L-15 fighter ground attack aircraft.
President Lungu commended China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation – CATIC for facilitating the state of the art technology.
He hailed the Chinese firm for being a committed partner to Government in modernising the security and defence wings.
President Lungu said the acquisition of the smart technology and assets which guarantee operational capability without compromising standards, is in line with the Zambia air force’s vision of creating “a lean, well equipped, well trained, professional and efficient tactical air force, capable of responding to the air power needs of the 21st century Zambia.”
“It is gratifying to note that systems in the simulator centre are capable of monitoring the aircraft from the ground and making it possible for ground crew to easily detect faults and rectify them,” President Lungu said.
“I also note that training can be done on the ground without taking to the air, hence saving on fuel.”
President Lungu noted that the world was becoming more technologically advanced bringing with it new security risks.
“With Zambia’s growing economy coupled with huge investments from local and foreign investors, the need for modern defence systems cannot be overemphasised,”
And ZAF Commander, Eric Chimese said opening of the Simulator Training Centre redefines and opens a new chapter in flying training of fighter pilots in the Airforce.
Lieutenant General Chimese explained that computer based ground training systems in Aviation have played a major role in building pilots’ skills and confidence by providing cost effective ways of training.
Meanwhile, CATIC Regional President, Li Houding said the L 15 Simulator Training Centre is the most advanced in Africa and will enable ZAF build up a cohort of well-trained pilots.
Yes Lungu ,our badly equiped forces will be beaten in war by the superior Angolan , Tanzanian or Kenyan armed forces.
Humbly dumbly was just hiding his hangover eyes behind those shades since when did he start wearing any ??
Never mind what he was inspecting he is just a crook bent on self serving with his few cartel members
Oh my God! All this man sees is an opportunity to procure more arms more kick backs .
Since independence Zambia has never fought a war a small robust army is needed.
Think of priorities UTH! And a specialist hospital to stop people going to SA and India!
Our president can wear amashades not these other power hungry people who have no heads for shades. lololololhahahahah
Zambia’s combat readiness lags behind the likes of Angola and South Africa as far as heavy artillery, mounted guns, tanks, airpower- helicopters, fighter jets but our troops are ranked as the best in Southern Africa and amongst the best if not the best in Africa.
Our troops have proven themselves in several peace keeping missions (what happened in Sierra Leone was due to bad commands from the UN Peacekeeping mission Head).
However we do need to invest in our defence capability especially with the uneasiness in Congo which might blow up any day.
You have no money to provide tapwater…yet this Lazy Bum with shades on with no priorities thinks its a wise idea.
Zambia is going no where with this utterly lazy sausage who thinks everyday is holiday.
How about arming hospitals with life saving equipment instead?
Kaiser, #2criminal is always armed, even in Swaziland is known.
Edgar, those gogos on your face what scar from Swaziland are you hiding?? Or is it a slap from bana dalisto for exposing your ‘stomach’ to young girls
@ Nubian, but walanda… We need to reconcile.
very soon will start hearing cases of abuse of the monies allocated for the procurement of the same modern equipments.how many army commanders have been prosecuted over such similar things so far…lol
And why exactly would you wish that Zambia goes to war with her Sister countries Tanzania, Angola and Kenya??
Are you okay ??
Guys chill out for a bit…. actually we do NEED to spend on our Airforce due to the fact that we are a sovereign country with assets to defend.. we actually need to be prepared.
A flight simulator as stated in the report will save tax payer money in terms of reduction of actual flight time for training which has a cost in FUEL as well as the general wear & tear of aircraft..
Put your passionate feelings that you harbour against the President to one side and let’s look at the national interest. Defence even for a country like Zambia in a world full of bad people is actually important.
good, what we need is the air Force to easily spot arsonists and shoot them down from above,
Mmmmmh! iyo movie, wake up.
good, what we need is the air Force to easily spot arsonists and shoot them down from above, we cannot allow lawlessness that’s affecting innocent ZAMBIANS, let zaf Advance it’s security so we can see these arsonists at night and bomb them before they shocka city market, I approve this message
#HHLIES
I see you are not signing off as the transgender jo anymore…..
Yes but there other priorities like improving people’s welfare.
I thought that’s what he is doing but you cannot live one side of the governing system , every side needs to be secured, if he channels all the resources here then congo decided to attack us, should we fight them with stones, we need the security as much as we need development in different sectors…I’m transcendent and I approve this message
#HHLIES
Congo has too much going on. It would not even think about starting another fire.
Buying latest equipment will be a waste of resources, the way to safeguard your country is to invest in accountable leadership and economic transformation that is inclusive. Encourage our neighbors to do the same. Oppressive and corrupt govts are the ones that invest in such.
Can you fight war with ‘accountable leadership and economic transfomation’ ? grow a brain dude
Another Chine Defense loan on the way…
Look at him Lazy Lungu..he is having the time of his life…i wonder why some people aspire for high office.
He never aspired he was accidentally put there ! when he and his clique tasted it thats when they got aspired with twisted motives unfortunately.
No need. Whom are we gonna fight?
Gen Chimese looks fit, better than the previous pot bellied unfit army commanders.
Is that fit ? Can you not see his bulging belly ?
with those woman like arms?
Ok the zambia commando is bad news. You can’t look in his eyes for of death. Man you develop goose bumps upon seeing these guys. Unfortunately most of them retire before testing there muscles. Send them to north Korea for refresher courses.
North Korea? You must be sick
And we thought Chiluba was corrupt!
Mr President please do not forget to equip CBU and UNZA engineering Schools too!
We need inherit advanced capability to intercept the stray ICBM from the fat boy or a Meteorite headed for Zambia.
SUCCESS = PREPARATION + OPPORTUNITY
Get ready for the floods in 2017/18 season now pleeease . . . Seirra Lone, Japan, USA, Europe, Mexico, etc.
ITS COMING . . . Do not wait for devine “Jesus” intervention. He has warned you enough, get ready Zed!!!
YOU DO WHAT YOU SAY AND KEEP ON FORGET ABOUT AGRICULTURE. A SOLDIER NEEDS PROPER FOOD. I WANT TO SEE YOUR SOLLAR FIGAYO YOU BOUGHT COUNTRYWIDE HOW THEY ARE PERFOMING BA CHAKOLWA PRESIDENT.
YOU DO WHAT YOU SAY AND KEEP ON FORGET ABOUT AGRICULTURE. A SOLDIER NEEDS PROPER FOOD. I WANT TO SEE YOUR SOLLAR FIGAYO YOU BOUGHT COUNTRYWIDE HOW THEY ARE PERFORMING BA CHAKOLWA PRESIDENT.
And we thought the wise still come from the east not knowing that the wise left the east. Shamo!
“I also note that training can be done on the ground without taking to the air, hence saving on fuel.” Ati saving fuel .lol Some speech writers… awe suwa.
African dictators, why is wearing sun shades indoors? Fashion has arrived a bit late for the brother leader!
His friends Kaizer and Mvuunga advised him that “Boss you look cool with them on”
Have a robust defense force is needed by all nations. Not all things are political.
As usual very swift with procurement, they only see $$$ £££ €€€ and ¥¥¥ in everything. What we need is proper governance and independent institutions which operate with out interference from State house cadres.
The art of war has changed, it has evolved from fighter jets to nuclear war heads. So stop abusing the little money we have on useless outdated Russian migs from world war 1. We need food, jobs,accountable leadership, revocation of children’s rights but you can’t looking that you also went to watch young girls in Swaziland when you could have gone to woodlands.
Citizen2017 if you need food find a piece of land and do some farming instead of complaining. You lazy bum
Those that talk aboit war from our neighbors are we going to fight it wth this simulator….,we havent increased our firepower.is all this budgeted for, is this another loan.
Mwaba naimwe zapaka mufuna ku manga a Mall in every district? You’ve stolen it’s enough ehe!
UPND is evil and friends to the devil if not the devil itself.
Victor you are in usa do they teach you to read, analyse and comment.. you junior partners in the mmd/pf regime are dysfunctional in constzntly posting about upnd when the topic has nothing to do with them… mutatat and mmd are laughing the whole time while you pf posters are commenting on HH UPND when the yo ur senior partner the MMD is dismantling your party from within backed by the actions or lack of action by the great leader.
Zambians have never seen war; they only read, watch on the screen or hear about it so they can’t see the need for heavier artillery. Childish! Just ignore then.
Meanwhile, the two smartest presidents in Africa are Edgar Lungu and Paul Kagame.
If you want peace, prepare for war……
Yep
Should have invested in Drones cheap and save lives, state of the art
The party of demons see wrong in everything the President does! It is not about policy but about a Namwala mentality!
Just look at how fat the Zambia Airless Commander Corporal Eric Chimese is, you put that entire njovu in a Mig the fighter plane will fail to get airborne! No wonder the real General Christon Tembo Mwana wa Kwitu when asked what to do with the airforce during the planning stage of his coup detat said, and quote: “We stage it at night because ZAF cannot fly at night”. These chaps are civilians, there is nothing they can ever do, remember how Foday Sankoh’s rag tags in Sierra Leone captured a Zambian battalion and decapitated it? Or when vinyau vya Janjaweed came knocking on their barracks in Dafur, anali malubilo okanga ndithu Zambian soldiers. They are completely useless.