By Mohammed Bello Doka, Abuja Network News
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Nigerian Navy (NN) took a significant step in bolstering its operational capabilities with the hand-over of three Agusta Westland (AW109) Trekker helicopters. The hand-over ceremony, conducted at the Caverton Helicopters Limited (CHL) hangar in Ikeja, Lagos, marked a crucial milestone in the Navy's ongoing modernization efforts.
The AW109 helicopters, equipped with a VIP configuration featuring full leather seating and advanced noise attenuation systems, bring enhanced functionality to the Navy’s fleet. Notably, their skid landing gear provides greater load capacity, while auxiliary tanks extend flight endurance to 3 hours and 40 minutes, making them well-suited for long-range transport and mission flexibility. These helicopters can also be retrofitted with specialized mission equipment, offering additional operational versatility.
Present at the hand-over were Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), along with senior naval officers and distinguished guests, including Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MOD); Dr. Raji Isiaka Ogunshola, Director of Navy Affairs, MOD; Chief Remi Makanjuola, President of Caverton Group; and Group Captain Bello (rtd), Caverton’s Managing Director.
Vice Admiral Ogalla expressed his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commending his unwavering support for the armed forces, and acknowledged the contributions of both the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence in securing these vital assets. He highlighted the helicopters’ expected role in enhancing NN operations, particularly for aerial reconnaissance, search and rescue, air insertion, and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions.
The addition of these AW109 helicopters is a promising advancement, strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security framework and the Navy’s response capabilities.
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