The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has expanded its fleet with the delivery of five new military helicopters as part of an ongoing government push to modernize its airpower capabilities against internal security threats.
The newly arrived aircraft include three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters manufactured by Italy’s Leonardo Helicopters and two H-125 light utility helicopters produced by Airbus Helicopters.
The three AW-109 units, which arrived in Lagos on Tuesday, form part of a 10-aircraft batch acquired by the federal government, with the remaining seven scheduled for delivery before the end of 2026. The two Airbus H-125 platforms were delivered in an earlier shipment.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the arrival as a critical step in building fleet availability and operational flexibility across active combat zones.
“The arrival of these five helicopters provides greater flexibility in the employment of airpower in support of ground troops in ongoing operations,” Air Marshal Aneke said, expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for sustained defense investments.
Air Force spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that the aircraft are currently undergoing post-delivery assembly, technical checks, and crew-readiness protocols before being deployed into active service.
The expanded rotary fleet will be assigned to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), close air support, combat search and rescue, and armed escort missions, particularly targeting armed banditry, kidnapping, and insurgent groups across the country’s northern regions.
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