The Nigerian Air Force has completed the local reassembly of its first two H125 helicopters at the NAF Base Ikeja, Lagos, as part of efforts to strengthen its technical and operational capabilities.
The NAF disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the helicopters were delivered by Airbus Helicopters and reassembled with the support of technical personnel from the company.
According to the service, the exercise is expected to strengthen technical collaboration between the NAF and Airbus, facilitate knowledge transfer and provide personnel with practical exposure to the support and maintenance of modern rotary-wing aircraft.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the development as a significant step towards improving the technical and operational capacity of the service.
Aneke said the NAF was committed not only to acquiring modern platforms but also to developing the expertise, partnerships and support systems needed to maximise their operational value and sustain them throughout their service life.
The NAF said the H125 helicopters would provide additional capability for ongoing air operations, including surveillance, tactical mobility and other operational support missions.
The service also acknowledged the support and strategic direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen national security capabilities had contributed to fleet modernisation and improved operational effectiveness.
