- Nigerian Air Force to receive 18 attack helicopters, 12 from the US and 6 from Turkey, aiming to enhance operational capabilities
- Chief of Air Staff visits NAF formations, expresses condolences for helicopter crash, and emphasizes measures to prevent future accidents
The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) will soon receive 18 attack helicopters, according to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.
Abubakar made the remarks during a one-day tour of NAF 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) formations and units in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He stated that the US would provide 12 attack helicopters, while the Turkish government would provide another six helicopters in September.
We are not deterred by recent developments as the Federal Government has approved the acquisition of 12 AH1 Zulu Cobra and six T129 Helicopters from the United States and Turkey respectively.
The first two T129 helicopters are scheduled to come into operation by September, to enhance our operational capabilities.
So, yes, we are saddened by the recent loss of our airplane (MI 171 helicopter) but then, we have a lot more (aircraft) coming in and our capabilities are increasing, he said.
Abubakar said he visited the state to commiserate with families of the NAF pilots and crew that died in the ill-fated helicopter crash in Niger on Aug. 14.
So, we came here to express our deepest condolences to the immediate family members of the crew that we lost.
The 115 special operations group is the home base for the airplane and all the crew that were onboard the unfortunate crash of our MI-171 helicopter.
Aside from this, we are also here to interact with the officers and men of the unit to encourage and assure them of our support in Operation Delta Safe, he added.
The deceased crew onboard the crashed aircraft included the pilot, co-pilot, and two airmen who oversaw the cabin, according to the Air Force chief.
He stated that the Air Force was currently putting measures in place to end military aircraft crashes in the country.
According to him, one of the measures was the formation of an air crash investigation board to determine the probable causes of the crash and to prevent future occurrences.
Abubakar stated that the air force would continue to increase the number of attack helicopters deployed to combat illegal refineries in the Niger Delta.
He claimed that joint operations with sister security agencies had resulted in the destruction of several illegal refining sites as well as the seizure of vessels used to steal crude oil from the region.
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