NewsOnline Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu has approved payment for the procurement of 12 attack helicopters for the Nigerian Army.
This was made known by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, at the opening of the maiden Nigerian Army Aviation Seminar on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, Abuja.
Lagbaja said that the 12 MD 530F Cayuse attack helicopters would operationalize the Nigerian Army aviation unit, which was set up to improve ground troops’ agility, responsiveness, and efficacy during operations.
The army chief added that it would also contribute to the overall operational success of joint and coalition troops.
Lagbaja explained that army aviation was generally separate from a nation’s dedicated air force, but usually equipped with helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.
He appreciated the president for buying into the aspiration of the Nigerian Army to have an equipped aviation unit, which would support ground troops as they focus on tactical and operational engagements.
According to him, the experiences of nations like the United States, Pakistan, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda are instructive in this area.
The COAS said that the army had submitted the aviation outfit to the Nigerian Air Force for proper mentoring.
On the seminar, Lagbaja said it was to discuss likely challenges the unit may face and proffer innovative solutions.
The Acting Coordinator, Nigerian Army Aviation, Brig.-Gen. Musa Alkali, said the unit would play a pivotal role in bolstering ground operations and addressing the current security challenges confronting the nation.
Alkali said the re-establishment of army aviation was a decisive step towards enhancing operational reach and effectiveness in countering contemporary threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security.
He added that the seminar was significant to the continuous efforts to operationalize the aviation unit.
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