Nigeria Inducts Two Turkish T129 ATAK Helicopters

Nigeria has officially commissioned two TAI T129 ATAK attack helicopters acquired from Turkey.

The commissioning ceremony, held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Makurdi, Benue state, was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Defense Badaru Abubakar, Turkey's Ambassador to Abuja Hidayet Bayraktar, Nigerian Land Forces Commander Taoreed Lagbaja, and various dignitaries.

During the event, Vice President Shettima emphasized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's belief that the deployment of these helicopters would play a crucial role in addressing security challenges within Nigeria and the broader West African region.

Nigeria has been facing security threats from terrorist organizations such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as armed gangs across the country. The acquisition of the T129 ATAK helicopters is expected to contribute to Nigeria's efforts to counter these security threats effectively.

The second batch of two T129 ATAK helicopters is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2024.

The T129 ATAK helicopter is equipped with options such as 500 rounds of 20-millimeter gun ammunition, 16 Roketsan CİRİT Missiles, 8 L-UMTAS or UMTAS Missiles, 8 Stinger Missiles, or 76 pieces of 70-millimeter rockets. Powered by two LHTEC-CTS800-4A Turboshaft Engines, each delivering 1,373 shp, the helicopter can achieve a maximum speed of 281 km/h, a 3-hour airtime, a range of 537 kilometers, and an altitude ceiling of 15,000ft.