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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While it may be true that the death of Abubakar Shekau allowed the larger and better organized ISWAP terrorist group, to solicit the loyalty of Shekau’s remaining terrorists and forge a unified effort to create a caliphate. Its a little too late for ISWAP. The military
..is getting new deliveries, its better armed, better trained, and let's be honest, its the most combat experienced in Africa. The Nigerian military has had a decade of warfare under its belt. From maritime piracy to insurgency. It knows what works and what doesn't.
And..its not just the army and airforce, though they get the spotlight. Even the Nigerian Navy has had a decade to master littoral operations, tactics, rescue operations and freedom of navigation operations. It is by far the best trained and combat experienced in SSA
The year 2019 was Dasvidanya the Eurocopter AS3332 helicopter, colloquially called Super Puma. For years the Super Puma has been the primary helicopter for Nigerian Special Forces troops
Im 2019 the Russian built Mi-17E multi mission helicopter was chosen to replace the Super Puma as the adopted aircraft for NAF Special Forces Units.
The first batch of the new MI-17E was delivered by a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 transport plane on 2 December 2020
As the Nigerian army modernizes we've seen a slew of new combat fatigue and gear in their kits. From improved body armor to better sniper rifles and grenade launchers.
Nigerian army amoured and field artillery units rock the coolest kit
Sh-105mm self propelled howitzer
ST-I Tank Destroyer/Assault Vehicle, Fire Support crewman.
South Africa, Botswana and Rwanda have all sent troops to Mozambique to combat the insurgency in the far north of the country.
South Africa in particular has sent its elite Special Forces Unit backed by helicopters to secure the $20 billion Total Gas Project.
Zimbabwe, Tanzania ans Angola might also contribute troops to Mozambique. Each of these nations will be given a geographical area to handle.
Rwandan already has a force of 1,000 troops and have reportedly made first contact with the insurgents, that saw several insurgents killed and a Rwandan soldier injured.
When the monetary value of Nigeria's $6 million VT-4 MBT was first demonstrated.
OCTOBER 23, 2020.
On the evening of October 23 2020, a fierce battle ensued after Nigerian troops walked into an ambush. Heavily outnumbered Nigerian troops began taking casualties
Sending victory the insurgents proceeded to finnish off the beseiged troops by taking a flanking maneouver and converging on them for a pincer attack
.. Suddenly a single VT-4 appeared and the situation was dramatically reversed. Though details of the VT-4's engagement with Boko Haram was not given, the soldiers not only lived to fight another day, the machine gun