The Nigerian Air Force has taken a step towards boosting its indigenous aircraft maintenance capacity with the completion of the local reassembly of two H125 helicopters in Lagos.
The helicopters were reassembled at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Ikeja, with technical support from Airbus Helicopters, according to a statement issued by the service on Monday.
The NAF said the exercise would deepen its technical partnership with Airbus and enable its personnel to acquire practical skills in the maintenance and support of modern rotary-wing aircraft.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the development formed part of efforts to ensure that the service had the technical expertise and support infrastructure required to sustain its growing fleet.
“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,” Aneke said.
The H125 helicopters are expected to add to the NAF's operational capabilities, particularly in surveillance, tactical mobility and other support missions.
The service said the local reassembly would also facilitate knowledge transfer and expose its personnel to the technical requirements associated with operating and sustaining the aircraft.
The NAF acknowledged the support and strategic direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration's commitment to strengthening national security capabilities had continued to support efforts to modernise its fleet and improve operational effectiveness.
The development comes as the Air Force continues to pursue measures aimed at improving its technical capacity and reducing dependence on external support for the maintenance and sustenance of its aircraft.
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