The resurrection of a Super Puma helicopter was a major operational milestone for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the nation’s chief of air staff, has reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining decisive airpower for national security.
The assurance was made public on February 4, 2026, following the activation of the reactivated Super Puma helicopter (NAF 565) at 205 Rotary Wing, Ikeja, Lagos, according to a statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force.
In his remarks, the CAS characterised the occasion as a potent emblem of revitalised capacity and institutional concentration, and he went on to say:
“This is more than just a plane getting back in the air; it’s a sign of how seriously we take our mission to build and maintain a team that is always prepared to do whatever the mission calls for.”
Restoring legacy platforms is still crucial to bolstering national security, he said.
Through smart acquisitions and the restoration of vital assets, he stressed, the NAF continues to acquire capability gains as a result of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He claims that the restoration of the Super Puma is part of a larger effort to keep the air force ready to fulfil its constitutional duties and keep its operational advantage in many theatres.
The Super Puma, according to Aneke, is one of the most adaptable rotary-wing platforms in the NAF inventory, highlighting the aircraft’s operational worth.
He emphasised the Super Puma’s significance in logistics support, search and rescue, casualty evacuation, troop transport, and general workhorse status in the Nigerian Air Force.
Restoring the platform will greatly improve marine security operations in Lagos and bolster counterinsurgency and anti-banditry activities across the country, the statement said, adding that it had previously shown its value in collaborative missions like Operation Hadin Kai.