Nigerian Air Force inducts T129 attack helicopters

One of the NAF’s two new T129 attack helicopters at Makurdi airbase. (Defence HQ Nigeria)

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) held a ceremony to formally induct its new T129 attack helicopters and a King Air 360ER into service at NAF Base, Makurdi, on 6 February.

The order for six T129s was announced by Turkish Aerospace in July 2022 and satellite imagery shows two had been delivered to Makurdi by 16 November 2023.

One T129 was displayed during the induction ceremony alongside a 12-round pod for 70 mm air-to-surface rockets and a four-round pod usually used for Roketsan’s Cirit laser-guided version of the 70 mm rocket. Nigerian television coverage showed the second that performed an aerial display.

In his speech, NAF Commander Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar said two T129s have been received so far, with another 46 aircraft of various types expected to be delivered in the next 18 months.

The NAF has previously said that the remaining four T129s were expected to be delivered before the end of the second quarter of 2024.