The Nigerian Presidential Air Fleet has received the first of two new AW189 VIP helicopters from Italy’s Leonardo Helicopters.

The AW189 is painted in the colours of the Nigerian Air Force’s Presidential Air Fleet. The second AW189, expected to be delivered soon, was also seen painted in the colours of Nigeria’s Presidential Air Fleet during flight testing in Italy.

The Presidential Air Fleet is based at Abuja/Nnamdi Azikiwe (Nigeria) and operates two Leonardo AW139 helicopters next to a fleet of fixed wing aircraft, which includes a Cessna 550, a Falcon 900, a Boeing 737-700, two Falcon 7X jets and a Gulfstream G550.

The arrival of the AW189 follows the induction into service of the first six of 12 A-29 Super Tucanos into the Nigerian Air Force on August 31. Other aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from China, are due to arrive in Nigeria soon.

To ensure there are enough pilots to fly the new acquisitions, the Nigerian Air Force is training personnel locally and in foreign countries, and last week graduated 20 UAV and five fixed/rotary wing pilots.

• A Defenceweb report