The Nigerian Air Force sent no less than 26 men to Turkey on Tuesday for training in the operation and maintenance of T129 ATAK helicopters.
Six T129 helicopters made by the Turkish Aerospace Industry were purchased by the Nigerian government last year for use in the nation’s counterterrorism operations.
The T129 ATAK is an all-weather, twin-engine, tandem-seat assault helicopter.
The service’s spokesperson, Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, stated that the 26 personnel were made up of pilots and maintenance workers.
According to reports, the aircraft was one of several anticipated to be delivered to NAF by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
Famuyiwa responded that the manufacture of aeroplanes takes time and that the earthquake in Turkey also had an impact when asked about the delay.
Two of the platforms were completed, he continued, and the staff would train on them.
In his words,
“First batch of Nigerian Air Force pilots and maintenance personnel to train on the T-129 ATAK helicopter under procurement from the Turkish Aerospace Industry arrived in Ankara. They are 26 in number,” he said.
“First, the production of new platforms takes time, so whatever timing was given initially was a projection susceptible to change. It was not sacrosanct. More so, you are aware Turkey recently suffered an earthquake, which also had its impacts. Second, two of the helicopters have been produced, and they are what our personnel in Turkey will be using for their training, so the project is on course. “
