NIGERIAN TERRORIST AND MILITANT IN TROUBLE AS FG ORDER FOR NEW MILITARY HARDWARE.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar, said yesterday there was urgent need to boost the capacity of Nigerian Air Force to meet its responsibilities. He spoke against the backdrop of involvement of the Nigerian Air Force in the battle to rid the country of terrorism in the North East and other serious security issues confronting the country, such as Niger Delta militancy. To this end, Abubakar, in an NTA programme, said that NAF would soon take delivery of 12 new Mi-35 attack helicopter gunships fitted with modern facilities to fire guided missiles at enemy positions. Aside the gunships from Russia, he said a new set of fighter jets from the United States of America with ISR facilities would soon be delivered to NAF as soon as the US Congress, which gives approval on manufacture and sale of such hi-tech weaponry, gave its nod. Commenting on the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and their camps in Sambisa, Air Marshal Abubakar said: “We have degraded the capacity of the Boko Haram terrorist’s group to move around inside the Sambisa forest. ‘’The only problem we are having is that of the terrain. It is a big challenge because the place has been mined and troops cannot just move freely.” Noting, however, that the terrorists had been fleeing the forest because of airforce bombardment, Abubakar said the task was immense.

The Mi-35M is a multi-role combat helicopter manufactured by Rostvertol, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. It is an export variant of Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter. Primarily designed for attack and military transport missions, the helicopter delivers superior flight performance and manoeuvrability than its predecessor. The production of Mi-35M started in 2005. The aircraft integrates modern, high-precision weaponry for destroying ground-based armoured targets and providing air support for ground missions. It can be modified as an attack, ground assault, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) or transport platform. The Mi-35M is one of the modern combat helicopters in the Russian Air Force inventory. It is also operated by the armed forces of Venezuela, Brazil and Azerbaijan. Features Based on the Mi-24 Hind, the Mi-35M incorporates several improvements, including shortened stub wings, a new rotor system, modern avionics, upgraded turboshaft engines and a hydraulic system. The cockpit and vital components of the helicopter are significantly armoured. It can be deployed in combat missions in various geographies with high-temperature and high-altitude environments and features round-the-clock combat capabilities for conducting missions during day and night. It is also capable of operating from unprepared and poorly equipped airfields.

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