The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday took delivery of a second batch of two MI35M combat helicopters from Russia as part of its effort to quench violence in all geographical locations of the country.
Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force in Abuja, AVM Abdulganiyu Olabisi, said after the assemblage of the aircrafts at the Tactical Air Command (TAC) in Makurdi, the helicopters would be taken to Kaduna State for induction before deployment to conflict zones.
"We are aware of the prevailing security situation in the country and the effort the Federal Government is making to ensure that every part of Nigeria is safe and secured. It is part of this concerted effort that the NAF is taking delivery of a second batch of two MI35M Combat helicopters from Russia.
The helicopters in a few days from now will be assembled. We are happy that we have a team of Russian engineers who are going to assist in the re-assembling of these helicopters. Thereafter, they would be taken to Kaduna where they will be officially inducted as part of the 54th NAF Day celebration. Thereafter, the helicopters will be deployed to conflict zones," he said.
Olabisi emphasised that the coming of the helicopters would go a long way in enhancing the security of the nation and enhance the NAF operational capacity in addition to the two other helicopters received in December 2016 which are already deployed for operations.
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NAF officials who received the consignment of combat helicopters for assemblage in Makurdi today. PHOTO BY: Hope Abah |
Also speaking, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters Abuja, AVM Olatokunbo Adesanya, explained that the MI35M helicopter is one of the most sophisticated aircrafts in the category of the MI35 gunships and one of its unique feature is night fighting capacity.
"You would recall that towards the end of 2016, Nigerian Air Force had received two of these gunships and those two, I have seen them recording a lot of heat in the counter-insurgency fight in the north east. And these two have been received today, are also going to be assembled after which they will be test-flown and once they are test flown, they will be inducted in Kaduna," Adesanya said.