Zainab Abioye
The Nigerian Air Force has successfully completed the local reassembly of its first two H125 helicopters at the NAF Base, Ikeja, Lagos, in a development it described as a significant step towards strengthening the country’s technical capacity in military aviation.
The helicopters, manufactured and delivered by Airbus Helicopters, were reassembled with the assistance of technical experts from the company, according to a statement issued by the NAF on Monday.
The exercise was undertaken to deepen technical collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force and Airbus, promote knowledge transfer and provide NAF personnel with practical experience in the maintenance and servicing of modern rotary-wing aircraft.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the development as a milestone in the service’s efforts to improve its technical and operational capabilities.
Aneke said the acquisition of modern aircraft must be complemented by the development of the technical expertise, partnerships and support systems needed to maximise their operational value and sustain them throughout their service life.
“Beyond acquiring modern platforms, we are committed to developing the knowledge, partnerships and support systems required to maximise their operational value and sustain them throughout their service life,” the CAS said.
The NAF said the H125 helicopters would strengthen ongoing air operations, particularly in surveillance, tactical mobility and other mission-support roles.
The local reassembly exercise is also expected to expose NAF technicians and other personnel to the technical processes involved in maintaining the helicopters, potentially reducing dependence on external technical support for some maintenance activities.
The service further expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and strategic direction, saying the Federal Government’s commitment to national security had contributed to ongoing efforts to modernise the NAF fleet and improve operational effectiveness.
The development comes as the Nigerian military continues efforts to expand and modernise its aviation capabilities in response to the country’s security challenges.
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