The Nigerian Air Force is set to acquire another Mi-35M combat helicopter from Russia. Nigerian military source indicate that the Air Force initially received two Mi-35Ms in April 2017, after placing orders for twelve units of the helicopters in September 2015, in two contracts which were concluded in 2014 and 2015.
The new Mi-35M helicopter, in desert camouflage scheme, destined for the Nigerian Air Force, was seen undergoing test flights in Rostvertol early this month, indicating delivery is imminent.
Nigeria acquisition of Mi-35M was first revealed in September 2015 by the Nigerian Air Force spokesman Air Vice Marshal OA Adesanya on Twitter. Unfortunately, in January 2019, a Nigerian Air Force Mi-35M attack helicopter which was providing air support to troops engaging Boko Haram terrorists in Damasak, Borno State crashed, killing five crew members on board the helicopter.
A Look at Russian Mi-35M Combat Helicopter
Weapons loadout include;
- Ataka-V or Shturm-V anti-tank missiles and Igla-V air-to-air missiles.
- 80- or 122-mm rockets and a GSh-231 23-mm twin-barrel cannon.
- The Mi-35M is powered by two Klimov VK-2500 turbo-shaft engines.
- The aircraft has an updated navigation and avionics suite which features multi-function colored displays and target sighting systems including a thermal imager and laser rangefinder.
- Besides the attack role, the Mi-35M can be used for landing or transporting up to 8 fully-equipped soldiers weighing 1 500 kg while up to 2 400 kg can be carried on an external sling.
- Has self-protection suite that includes a radar warning receiver, chaff and flare dispenser, infrared jammers, and engine exhaust suppressor.
The new Mi-35M combat aircraft will be used to support Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and terrorism efforts. For about a decade, Nigeria has been struggling with Islamist’s militancy attacking civilians and military targets.
