The Nigerian Air Force has completed the local reassembly of its first two H125 helicopters at NAF Base Ikeja, Lagos, strengthening its technical capacity to support modern rotary-wing aircraft.
The exercise was conducted with the assistance of Airbus Helicopters technical personnel, the NAF said on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The service said the process provided its personnel with practical experience in supporting and maintaining the H125 platform, while facilitating knowledge transfer and technical cooperation with Airbus.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said acquiring modern aircraft must be matched by the expertise and support systems needed to sustain them throughout their service life.
“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.
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The NAF said the helicopters would support surveillance, tactical mobility and other operational missions.
The development follows the service’s September 15 announcement of five newly acquired helicopters under the Federal Government’s airpower modernisation programme.
The batch comprises two H125s manufactured by Airbus Helicopters and three AW109 Trekker B helicopters produced by Leonardo Helicopters. The H125s arrived earlier, while the three AW109s were delivered in Lagos on September 15.
The AW109s are part of a 10-helicopter acquisition, with the remaining seven expected before the end of 2026.
The NAF said the new platforms would undergo the required technical and crew-readiness processes before induction and deployment, adding that the expanded fleet would boost its rotary-wing capability for ongoing operations.