The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recently attempted to sell three Soviet-era Mi-24V attack helicopters to Ukraine, but negotiations broke down due to the poor condition of the aircraft and high pricing, a source close to NAF Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, told Huhuonline.com, on conditions of anonymity, given the sensitive nature of the negotiations. Desperate to replenish its war-weakened arsenal, Ukraine had approached Nigeria at the end of 2023 seeking heavy military equipment. The NAF offered to sell three Soviet-made Mi-24V attack helicopters to the Ukrainian armed forces. However, negotiations soon broke down, not only because of the high price but also because the helicopters were in poor condition, and deemed by the Ukrainians as too old to fight.
The offered helicopters registered as NAF529, NAF538, and NAF539, were then subjected to an audit by the AAL Group, based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The company, which specializes in maintenance services for Mi-8 and Mi-17 transport helicopters, sent experts to Port Harcourt to assess the technical performance of the three aircraft. AAL is headed by Ukrainian national Oleg Fidelskiy, who has won numerous contracts in Africa, from Togo to the DRC, concluded that the planes were unfit for service. The audit underscored the fact that the three Mi-24 helicopters can no longer be flown after suffering from inadequate maintenance for several years. This lack of maintenance has grounded them since 2015. In addition to corrosion, which has severely damaged the aircraft, many parts are currently missing, including rotors and landing systems.
Since 2023, NAF has undertaken to dispose of part of its helicopter fleet, including around 15 ageing Mi-24s. They have begun to replace them by acquiring six T-129s from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Nigeria signed a contract with TAI in 2021 to acquire six T-129 ATAK helicopters. The first two attack helicopters were delivered in November 2023, with the remaining four expected by the second quarter of 2024. In March 2024, Bell Textron secured a $455 million contract to supply 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to Nigeria. The agreement includes engineering, program management, and logistics support, with deliveries expected to be completed by July 2028.
Announced by the US Department of Defense, the deal also covers associated engineering, program management, and logistics support. Work for the contract will be performed in Texas, with an expected completion date of July 2028. The US State Department first approved the sale in 2022, but the estimated cost it originally revealed was nearly $1 billion. Once delivered, the Viper helicopters are expected to enhance Nigeria’s air defense capabilities and help uphold regional stability. They will also bolster the country’s interoperability with the US and other Western partners, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
Based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, the AH-1Z Viper is a twin-engine helicopter that serves as the US Marine Corps’ primary rotor-wing ground attack aircraft. It can perform close air support, aerial reconnaissance, and other military missions in the most extreme environments. The Viper can carry a two-person crew (a pilot and a co-pilot/gunner) and fly at a maximum speed of 370 km (230 miles) per hour). It also has an operational range of 257 miles (574 km), and can support missions day or night. Bell Textron says the AH-1Z is the only attack chopper in the world with fully integrated air-to-air missile capability, thanks to the AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles attached to its weapons bay.
Nigeria is also scheduled to receive its first Italian Leonardo M-346FA attack aircraft in early 2025, with an initial delivery of three jets. The remaining 21 aircraft are due by mid-2026. This acquisition is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to modernize its air force and enhance its military capabilities. In addition to the M-346FAs, the NAF has ordered 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters from Leonardo, with deliveries anticipated by early 2026. To support these new assets, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff, has emphasized the importance of establishing maintenance facilities within the country. This initiative aims to ensure long-term operational readiness and sustainability of the expanding fleet.
Nigeria’s history with the Mi-series helicopters dates back to 2000 when the NAF acquired six Mi-35P attack helicopters. In subsequent years, Ukraine supplied additional Mi-24 helicopters in 2008 and 2014, while Belarus provided two more in 2010. These helicopters played a crucial role in supporting NAF operations, particularly within the 97 and 115 Special Operations Groups, offering escort missions, quick response capabilities, and close air support in regions like the Northeast and the Lake Chad Basin.
