By Milcah Tanimu
The Nigerian Navy has received three new Leonardo AW109 Trekker helicopters, following their delivery on November 12, 2024. Purchased by the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, the helicopters were formally handed over in a ceremony held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Currently configured for VIP transport, these helicopters are versatile and can be reconfigured for various operations, including aerial reconnaissance, search and rescue (SAR), and medical evacuation (medevac). Their skid-equipped design allows for better loading capacity, making them more suited for these missions compared to their wheeled counterparts.
In their standard configuration, the AW109 Trekker can carry two crewmembers and five passengers. The helicopters have a cruise speed of 274 km/h, a range of 828 km, and a maximum endurance of 4 hours and 19 minutes.
Additionally, the Nigerian government had announced plans in 2023 to acquire a fleet of firefighting aircraft.
