The Nigerian Air Force has received five newly acquired helicopters, part of a broader push by the Federal Government to upgrade the military’s capacity to tackle ongoing security challenges.
The delivery includes three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters from Italy’s Leonardo Helicopters and two H-125 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters. According to NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the three AW-109s touched down in Lagos on Tuesday, forming part of a larger order of ten aircraft, with the remaining seven due before year’s end. The two H-125 units had already arrived earlier.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, called the delivery another step forward in the ongoing effort to modernize the force. He said the additional aircraft would give field commanders more flexibility in deploying air power and would provide greater flexibility in the employment of airpower in support of ground troops in ongoing operations.
Aneke noted the AW-109 helicopters would strengthen the NAF’s rotary-wing capabilities across a range of missions, including surveillance, close air support, armed escort, and combat search-and-rescue operations. He suggested the aircraft’s versatility would give commanders more options for rapidly moving assets in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency campaigns. The H-125s, he added, would offer complementary light-helicopter support for a variety of operational needs, from troop and equipment transport to reconnaissance in hard-to-reach areas.
The Air Chief thanked President Bola Tinubu for continued backing of the modernization drive, while stressing that new equipment alone isn’t enough — sustained maintenance and logistics support will be key to ensuring the aircraft deliver real operational value.
The newly arrived helicopters are currently undergoing post-delivery assembly and technical checks, including crew training, ahead of formal induction into service. Their arrival comes as Nigeria’s military continues operations against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across several regions of the country.
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