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NAF Meets U.S. Officials to Speed Up Delivery of Attack Helicopters

Published by admin on January 9th, 2026.

NAF Meets U.S. Officials to Speed Up Delivery of Attack Helicopters

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has held high-level engagements with officials of the United States Government and representatives of Bell Textron as part of efforts to speed up the delivery of twelve AH-1Z attack helicopters acquired to boost Nigeria’s air combat capability.

The discussions took place during a Programme Management Review meeting held in San Diego, California, from January 5 to 6, 2026. The meeting was led by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and focused on reviewing the progress of the helicopter acquisition programme and identifying steps to ensure timely delivery within approved cost and schedule.

Speaking during the engagement, Air Marshal Aneke said the review was aimed at reinforcing proper oversight, accountability, and strict adherence to agreed timelines and budgetary provisions. He described the acquisition as a critical component of the NAF’s ongoing efforts to build a professional, well-equipped, and mission-ready force capable of delivering effective airpower in support of national security objectives.

The CAS commended the United States Government and Bell Textron for their cooperation, transparency, and professionalism throughout the process. He noted that the structured review reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to discipline, results, and effective programme management, stressing that all stakeholders must remain focused on achieving timely and successful delivery of the helicopters.

Air Marshal Aneke further explained that the AH-1Z acquisition goes beyond fleet expansion, describing it as a symbol of the strong defence partnership between Nigeria and the United States. According to him, the collaboration highlights a shared commitment to addressing evolving security challenges and promoting regional and global stability through sustained capability development.

Reaffirming the urgency attached to the programme, the CAS assured U.S. partners that the NAF would take all necessary measures to ensure prompt delivery. He also tasked the programme management team to work proactively, meet production milestones, and maintain quality standards without compromising timelines or budget.

The Air Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his continued support of the Nigerian Air Force. He said the deployment of the AH-1Z helicopters would significantly enhance combat effectiveness, improve mission readiness, and enable more precise operations while reducing collateral damage and providing timely support to ground forces.

He assured Nigerians of the NAF’s continued resolve to combat terrorism and other security threats with professionalism, accountability, and respect for human lives and property.

Nigeria’s plan to acquire the 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters received approval from the United States Government in April 2022. The production and delivery contract, valued at about 455 million dollars, was awarded to Bell Textron in March 2024 by the U.S. Department of Defence.