The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has completed the local reassembly of its first two H125 helicopters at the NAF Base in Ikeja, Lagos. This development is expected to strengthen the service's technical capacity and reduce dependence on external support for aspects of aircraft maintenance. The helicopters were delivered by Airbus Helicopters and reassembled locally with technical support from Airbus personnel.
The reassembly exercise provided NAF technicians with practical exposure to the assembly, support, and maintenance requirements of modern rotary-wing aircraft. This facilitated direct transfer of technical knowledge from Airbus personnel to NAF technicians. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, emphasized that acquiring modern platforms must be matched by developing expertise, partnerships, and support systems needed to keep the aircraft operational.
The H125 helicopters will expand NAF's operational capabilities in surveillance, tactical mobility, and other support missions. The local reassembly is expected to contribute to greater technical self-reliance and improved fleet sustainability. According to NAF, the exercise provided an important opportunity for its personnel to gain hands-on experience in aircraft support and maintenance.
The experience gained from the reassembly exercise will contribute to building a pool of technical personnel capable of supporting modern aviation platforms and improving the sustainability of NAF's growing fleet. The service said the development is part of its broader efforts to build technical self-reliance, improve fleet availability, and ensure that newly acquired aircraft can be effectively sustained throughout their operational life.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the service is focused not only on acquiring modern aircraft but also on developing the human and technical capacity required to maximize their value. He stated that beyond acquiring modern platforms, NAF is committed to developing the knowledge, partnerships, and support systems required to maximize their operational value and sustain them throughout their service life.
The local reassembly exercise also strengthened institutional collaboration between NAF and Airbus. The H125 helicopters are expected to provide additional capability for ongoing air operations, particularly in surveillance, tactical mobility, and other operational support missions. The aircraft will complement NAF's existing rotary-wing capabilities as the service continues to expand and modernize its fleet.
The development is a significant milestone in NAF's efforts to enhance its technical capacity and operational capabilities. With the local reassembly of the H125 helicopters, NAF has taken a crucial step towards achieving greater technical self-reliance and improved fleet sustainability. The service is expected to continue to build on this achievement to enhance its operational effectiveness.
Key points
- The Nigerian Air Force completes local reassembly of first two H125 helicopters at NAF Base in Lagos.
- The development is expected to strengthen NAF's technical capacity and reduce dependence on external support.
- The H125 helicopters will expand NAF's operational capabilities in surveillance, tactical mobility, and other support missions.
