BREAKING: It’s ready for test flight, FG announces near-completion of first made-in-Nigeria helicopter

The first made-in-Nigeria helicopter is near completion and ready for its test flight, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced.

NASENI affirmed that the project which did not start from the scratch was built from already existing aeronautical advancements.

The project manager for NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute in Kaduna, Kareen Aduagba made the disclosure at a Focus Group Engagement organised by the agency on Wednesday, February 26.

Aduagba said the agency is working on both made-in-Nigeria helicopter and several Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

He said, “Some of our components were sourced from developed countries in Semi Knock Down (SKD) and Complete Knock Down (CKD) formats. Through engineering and scientific expertise, we are assembling and integrating these components.”

According to Aduagba, the project is currently in its final stage and the test run will take place soon.

“We are now in the final stages, and very soon, we will conduct the first test flight of Nigeria’s first indigenous helicopter,” he said.