FG plans for speedy delivery of attack helicopters to NAF

Mohammed Badaru, Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, and Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, are currently in Turkey to enable the fast delivery of T-129 ATAK helicopters to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

The Turkish Aerospace Industry was awarded a contract to provide the Federal Government with six T-129 ATAK helicopters; the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will receive delivery of two of these helicopters in the coming weeks.

It is anticipated that the delivery of the other four helicopters will take place prior to the conclusion of the second quarter of 2024.

Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who serves as the Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, made these facts public in a statement that he published on Sunday in Abuja.

As part of the scheduled activities for the visit, he added that the minister had previous discussions with his Turkish counterpart, retired Lieutenant-General Yasar Guler, on important matters pertaining to the collaboration of the two countries’ militaries.

Gabkwet further mentioned that retired General Guler had guaranteed that Turkey’s armed forces and defense businesses would provide any assistance that Nigeria could require in order to reinforce and expedite the country’s victory over terrorism and other criminal difficulties.

In their pursuit of a business partnership, he added, Badaru and Abubakar traveled to Turkey to meet with representatives from a number of Turkish businesses, such as Turkish Aerospace Industries, MKE, Aselsan, and Roketsan.

These firms are among the most highly regarded worldwide defense companies, and they are well-known for the high-quality defense and military equipment that they produce.

“While at these companies, the minister of defense called for improved synergy between the companies and Nigeria through the transfer of defense technology to Nigeria,” stated Gabwat. “This call was made while the minister of defense was visiting these companies.”