Rescue Operations: Presidency Inducts Newly Acquired Combat Helicopters

Chinazor Megbolu

The Federal Government of Nigeria inducted 3 newly acquired combat helicopters meant for rescue operations in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari launched the combat helicopters on Thursday in colourful ceremony in Abuja.

The combat helicopters according to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), are two Augusta 109 and one Mi-171E combat helicopters.

The unveiling was done during induction ceremony of the Nigerian Air Force’s at the Eagle Square, Federal Capital Territory.

At the occasion, so many air displays and simulation exercises focused on rescue operations and engagement of bandits and others threats to national security were displayed.

Under the Buhari administration, NAF has procured and inducted several fighter aircrafts, helicopter gunships.

It would be recalled that NAF also commissioned Combat Aircraft as well as inducted additional vehicles for Base Defence on January 29, 2020.

In its continued efforts to boost its airlift and combat support capability for Armed Forces operations across the country, NAF on the 29th of January 2020, ‘accepted’ back into service another C-130H aircraft, NAF 913, after a successful Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) within the country at the 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot (631 ACMD), Ikeja, Lagos.

According to its spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, this brings to 2 the number of C-130H aircraft successfully reactivated in-country within the space of one year after NAF 917 was commissioned on 24 June 2019 upon completion of in-country PDM.