- Three Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters handed over to Nigerian Navy by Ministry of Defence
- Handover ceremony took place at Ikeja, Lagos, on November 12, 2024
- Helicopter capabilities: VIP configuration, noise attenuation system, landing skids, and auxiliary tanks for extended endurance
- Enhanced operations: Air reconnaissance, search and rescue, air insertion, and MEDEVAC
The Nigerian Navy has boosted its operational capacity with the receipt of three Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters procured by the Ministry of Defence. The handover ceremony, held at Ikeja, Lagos, on November 12, 2024, was attended by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and other senior officers ¹.
The helicopters are configured for VIP use, featuring full leather interiors and a noise attenuation system. They also boast landing skids, providing better loading capacity compared to wheeled helicopters, and auxiliary tanks that extend their endurance to up to 3 hours and 40 minutes ¹. This enables them for long-range transport flights, and they can be retrofitted with purpose-built mission equipment.
Helicopter Capabilities:
- VIP Configuration: Full leather interiors and noise attenuation system
- Landing Skids: Better loading capacity compared to wheeled helicopters
- Auxiliary Tanks: Extended endurance for long-range transport flights
- Retrofit Options: Purpose-built mission equipment for enhanced operations
The Chief of Naval Staff expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Ministers of Defence, Abubakar Badaru and Bello Matawelle, for facilitating the procurement. These helicopters will enhance the Navy’s operational efficiency in areas such as air reconnaissance, search and rescue, air insertion, and MEDEVAC.
