NAF Boosts Airpower With Five New Helicopters

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken delivery of five new helicopters as the Federal Government steps up efforts to modernise and re-equip the Armed Forces to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

The newly acquired platforms comprise three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters manufactured by Leonardo Helicopters of Italy and two H-125 helicopters produced by Airbus Helicopters.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the acquisition formed part of the Federal Government’s sustained investment in strengthening the operational capabilities of the service.

Ejodame said the three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters arrived in Lagos on Tuesday as part of a batch of 10 recently acquired by the Federal Government.

He said the remaining seven helicopters were expected to be delivered before the end of 2026.

The two H-125 helicopters had earlier been delivered to the NAF, bringing the total number of helicopters covered by the latest acquisition to five.

Read Also:

Air Force Recruitment: NAF Opens Portal for 2026 Enlistment

Reacting to the development, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the acquisition as another milestone in the ongoing modernisation and re-equipment of the NAF.

Aneke said the arrival of the helicopters would increase aircraft availability and provide commanders with greater flexibility in deploying airpower in support of military operations across the country.

According to him, the new platforms would particularly strengthen the NAF’s ability to provide timely air support to ground troops operating in challenging environments.

“The arrival of these five helicopters provides greater flexibility in the employment of airpower in support of ground troops in ongoing operations,” he said.

The Air Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support for the transformation and modernisation of the NAF.

He said the Federal Government’s investment was enabling the service to progressively develop the capabilities required to fulfil its operational responsibilities and respond to evolving security threats.

Aneke said the three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters would significantly enhance the NAF’s rotary-wing capabilities, particularly in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), close air support, armed escort and combat search and rescue.

He added that the platforms would also support other joint missions involving ground forces.

“The versatility of the AW-109 platform is expected to provide commanders with additional options for rapidly deploying air assets in support of troops engaged in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and other internal security operations,” Aneke said.

He said the helicopters would further improve the NAF’s capacity to respond to emerging threats in situations where speed, mobility and sustained aerial support are critical to ground operations.

According to him, the two H-125 helicopters would complement the AW-109s by providing versatile light-helicopter capabilities for a range of operational requirements.

The NAF said the five platforms would collectively expand its flexibility and capacity to respond to changing operational demands, including the movement of personnel and equipment, surveillance and support for joint forces operating in difficult-to-reach areas.

Helicopters Undergoing Assembly

The NAF said the newly delivered platforms were undergoing post-delivery assembly and other technical processes ahead of their formal induction and operational deployment.

It said the process would also include crew-readiness and technical preparations to ensure the helicopters were fully prepared for operational employment.

Aneke stressed that the NAF’s responsibility extended beyond the acquisition of new platforms, saying the service must ensure that the Federal Government’s investment translated into measurable operational results.

He said the NAF would continue to prioritise effective employment, maintenance and logistics sustainment to maximise aircraft availability.

“We will continue to prioritise effective employment, maintenance and logistics sustainment so that every aircraft delivered adds measurable value to ongoing operations and the protection of the lives and property of Nigerians,” he said.

The acquisition comes as the Armed Forces continue operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats across multiple theatres.

The NAF said the additional rotary-wing capacity would strengthen support for joint forces by improving the speed, reach and effectiveness of air support available to troops on the ground.

The remaining seven AW-109 Trekker B helicopters, expected before the end of 2026, are expected to further expand the NAF’s rotary-wing fleet and its capacity to support joint military operations.