The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, have embarked on a mission to Turkey with the aim of expediting the delivery of T-129 ATAK helicopters recently acquired for the Nigerian Air Force by the Federal Government.
In an official statement released on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, it was revealed that the Minister held discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Lt. Gen. Yasar Guler (Rtd.), addressing critical bilateral and defence cooperation matters.
During these discussions, Lt. Gen. Yasar Guler assured the Nigerian Minister of Defence of Turkey’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and other security challenges.
The statement further outlined the visit to selected Turkish companies, including Turkish Aerospace Industries, MKE, Aselsan, and Roketsan. These companies are globally recognized for their high-quality defence and military equipment production.
The Minister of Defence emphasized the need for improved cooperation and technology transfer between these Turkish companies and Nigeria.
The Federal Government had recently procured six T-129 ATAK helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries, two of which are set to be delivered to the Nigerian Air Force in the coming weeks. The remaining helicopters are expected to be delivered before the end of the second quarter of 2024.
