First note Nigerian Air Force T-129s

On 29 October 2023, the first image of two Nigerian Air Force T129 ATAK attack helicopters were seen at X (Twitter). The serial of one of the helicopters is NAF500, the one in the background might be NAF501.

During the Farnborough 2022 Air Show, the CEO of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) confirmed to CNN Turk the sale of six T129 ATAK attack helicopters to Nigeria. By then it was reported that the Nigerian Army would receive the attack helicopters. It is now known that the helicopters will be operated by the 115th Special Operations Group (SOG) at Port Harcourt.

The delivery schedule of the attack helicopters is that two would be delivered in October 2023 or early November, two more before the end of year 2023 and the final two in the first quarter of 2024. A follow-up order for six more T129s is being discussed, but the Nigerian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not yet made a decision on this.

Credit photo: Jake (@Jakepor21)