The Nigeria Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, are in Turkey right now to speed up the delivery of T-129 ATAK helicopters.
Jerrymusa.com reports that two of the six T-129 ATAK helicopters ordered by the federal government from the Turkish Aerospace Industry will be delivered to the NAF in the coming weeks.
Before the end of the second quarter of 2024, we should receive the last four helicopters.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, released the news in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
According to him, as part of the planned events for the trip, the minister met with his Turkish colleague, retired Lt.-Gen. Yasar Guler, to discuss important bilateral and defence cooperation topics.
According to Gabkwet, retired Gen. Guler had assured Nigeria that the Turkish military and defence firms would do everything they could to help the country fight terrorism and other criminal threats.
According to him, Badaru and Abubakar scouted out potential partners in Turkey by visiting Turkish Aerospace Industries, MKE, Aselsan, and Roketsan.
These firms are among the best in the world when it comes to making military hardware and are widely recognised as industry leaders.
According to Punch the minister of defence “called for improved synergy between the companies and Nigeria by the transfer of defence technology to Nigeria” when visiting these firms, as stated by Gabwat.