The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has led a high-level Nigerian Air Force (NAF) delegation to the Bell Textron facility in Amarillo, Texas, United States, for the official beam-signing ceremony.
The event marks a significant milestone in the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters for the NAF and represents a major step forward in Nigeria-United States defence cooperation and the ongoing modernisation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Speaking at the ceremony, Aneke said the acquisition underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the operational effectiveness of the military and ensuring that the NAF remained well-positioned to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.
He credited the strategic vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the leadership and support needed to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.
“The acquisition of the AH-1Z Viper helicopters represents an important milestone in our continuing efforts to build a more capable, professional and mission-ready Nigerian Air Force,” Aneke said.
He added that the programme aligned with his command philosophy of delivering decisive airpower effects in seamless synergy with surface forces to achieve national security objectives.
The CAS also acknowledged the contributions of the United States Government, Bell Textron, Programme Management Air 276 and other international stakeholders, stressing that sustained technical collaboration and strategic partnerships were essential to the successful implementation of capability development initiatives.
As part of the visit, the NAF delegation toured the Bell Textron facility to inspect the active AH-1Z Viper production line.
The milestone underscores Nigeria’s efforts to modernise its airpower capabilities and strengthen its capacity to respond to current and emerging security threats.
