Nigeria unveils new AW109 helicopters
The rotorcraft are part of efforts by the Nigerian Navy to expand control over its territorial waters, and will be used for a range of maritime operations
The Nigerian Navy has unveiled three AW109 Trekker helicopters, designated NN501, NN502, and NN503, equipped for use in aerial reconnaissance, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation, and personnel transport operations.
The aircraft were delivered to the Nigerian government in late 2024, and subsequently reconfigured. They are expected to provide greater flexibility and capacity to naval operations, particularly in their role of maintaining maritime security.
The AW109 has a maximum cruise speed of 275km/h, and a maximum range of 828km.
The announcement coincides with the unveiling of three new patrol vessels, which will be used to provide more responsive maritime law enforcement to threats such as piracy, oil theft, and illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.