The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it is set to induct the second batch of two new AgustaWestland 109 Power Attack Helicopters procured by the Federal Government.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the attack helicopters were procured by the Federal Government as part of the fleet enhancement efforts to enable greater effective and efficient employment of air power to tackle the security challenges facing the nation.
According to him, the two helicopters, along with associated equipment and spares, arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja on board a Boeing 737-400 Cargolux Airline aircraft from Malpensa International Airport in Italy on Jan. 15.
They (helicopters) were received by a NAF Team, led by Air Commodore Halim Adebowale and the Country Representative of Leonardo Helicopters, manufacturers of the aircraft.
Daramola stated that NAF engineers and technicians, working with a Team from Leonardo, have begun assembling the helicopters preparatory to their induction into service.
Recall that the NAF had received the first batch of 2 new Agusta 109 Power Helicopters which were inducted into the Service on April 29 2019, during the 55th NAF Day Celebration in Abuja.
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The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said after induction, the two new helicopters would be deployed to theatres of operation across the country to reinforce NAF capability in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality.
He disclosed that in the past few years NAF had taken delivery of several new aircraft in its efforts to effectively serve the nation.
“The Service, within the last 5 years, has taken delivery of 21 brand new aircraft, including 10 Super Mushshak, 5 Mi-35M Helicopter Gunships, 2 Bell 412 Helicopters and 4 Agusta 109 Power Helicopters.
“Beside these, 15 additional aircraft have been ordered by the Federal Government, which include 12 Super Tucano attack aircraft and 3 JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft, in addition, the Service also took over 11 aircraft from other MDAs.
“These include three EC-135 helicopters and 3 Dauphin helicopters from NNPC, 3 Donier 228 aircraft and 2 Agusta 101 from the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF); making an unprecedented total of 47 aircraft that have either been inducted into the NAF or ordered for the Service since 2015.
“In the same vein, over 20 previously grounded aircraft have been reactivated within the past 5 years,” Daramola disclosed.
