Why is Nigeria so hell bent on aquiring the American AH-1 Cobra, it is willing to risk another diplomatic embarrassment.
In 2013 the Israeli air force phased out its fleet of AH-1 attack helicopters. Nigeria showed interest in buying surplus helicopters that was phased out
by the IAF. Negotiations began in ernest. Suddenly Israels defense ministry was ordered to STOP negotiations following a request by President Obama. A leaked memo revealed that the US did not want to be involved in any way in the domestic war in Nigeria between
the Nigerian army and Boko Haram militants..( so long Boko Haram was winning). Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama are not realy fond of each other. They do not see eye to eye. But this interference Israels internal affairs took relations to an all time low.
In the space of five months former President Goodluck Jonathans attempt to aquire A-29 Super Tucano was met with a slammed siir. His attempt to aquire Israeli AH-1 Cobras ended in what can best be described as Great Power Bullying designed to root GEJ out of office.
An exasperated attempt by President Jonathan, fearful of further U.S sabotage went below radar to secretely aquire arms from South Africa's biggest arms manufacturer - Denel Dynamics. Prove to be an exercise in futility.
Enter 2021. The Nigerian government is AGAIN reaching out to the very same United States to aquire the very same AH-1 Cobra helicopters, and it ended in the very same public humiliation of a sovereign state.
But what could be so special about this helicopter that elicits this extraordinarily level of persistence from the Nigerian government? So uncharacteristic. The AH-1 is the only attack helicopter in the world with fully integrated air to air missile capability and sensors..
We are looking at a helicopter that eliminates threats at unimaginable range.
The AH-1 Cobra is the first attack helicopter in the world. It has multi mission capabilities, with the ability to fire more types of weapons than any other helicopter in the world.
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