Nigeria’s Air Force says it is buying new fighter jets and helicopters.
The air force has been pivotal in an offensive to curb an Islamic uprising in the northeast with near-daily bombing raids on insurgent hideouts in forests and caves along the border with Cameroon.
Air Marshal Adesola Amosu said in a statement Wednesday that the government has approved the acquisition of fighter aircraft and helicopters as well as upgrades for some existing aircraft. The air force uses mainly Chinese Chengdu-F7 multi-role fighters and Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters. Amosu said C-130 and G-222 transport planes also are being used in the conflict.
Boko Haram gunmen destroyed two helicopter gunships and three decommissioned fighter jets in an attack on a base in the northeastern city of Maiduguri in December.
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