The Federal Government has initiated negotiations with the United States for the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
This was disclosed in a statement released yesterday by NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
Manufactured by American aerospace company Bell Helicopter, the AH-1Z Viper is the world’s only attack helicopter equipped with fully integrated air-to-air missile systems.
Renowned for its advanced sensor suite, the Viper allows pilots to detect, track, and engage targets at extended ranges, making its strikes more effective and missions more survivable.
These helicopters are part of the 61 military aircraft Nigeria anticipates receiving in 2025.
Commodore Ejodame further revealed that the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, recently led a high-level delegation to the United States to attend a programme management review meeting focused on the helicopter procurement process.
