Additional Gazelle helicopters for Niger Air Force
On 16 November 2022, the French ambassador in the République du Niger, Sylvain Itté, officially handed over two Gazelle light attack helicopters to the Armée de l 'Air du Niger (FAN, Niger Air Force). Niger's Defence Minister, Alkassoum Indatou and the Chief of Defence took part in the solemn reception ceremony held at Air Base 101 in Niamey.
The two SA342M Gazelles, serials 5U-MHL and 5U-MHM, were refurbished by Aerotech Group SAS in France before delivery and are armed with 20 mm cannons.
Recalling that Paris had already transferred three Gazelles in 2013, Niger's Defence Minister, Alkassoum Indatou, welcomed this new aid, which, according to him, is "proof of France's unconditional support". in the fight against terrorism".
The light helicopters will be used for combat support of ground troops, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and liaison, amongst others, demonstrating "the rising strength of the Air Force". According to the details given by the French ambassador, the two Gazelles were delivered to the FAN with seven 20 mm guns (Giat M621) with a potential of 8,000 shots each and a batch of spare parts "to guarantee perfect coherence of the initial conditions of the maintenance component in operational condition". The value of this donation amounts to 4 million euro.
Starting in 2012, France has trained thirteen pilots and fifteen mechanics. In March 2013, a first batch of three Gazelles were donated.
In May 2022, the FAN received its first Bayraktar TB-2 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). An UAS base is under construction in Tahoua in the centre of the country to strengthen the air capabilities of the army. The first Turkish-made Bayraktars have already been delivered to the air force.
In October 2022, Scramble Magazine reported on the transfer of two AgustaBell AB412HP helicopters from Italy to the FAN, with two more to follow in 2023. More donations to Niger's armed forces came on 1 November, when the German Ministry of Defence supplied an unknown number of UAS, offroad vehicles and other equipment to Niger’s armed forces and in September when the US handed over eight OTT Puma M36 vehicles to help in its fight against terrorism, along with 43 Toyota Land Cruisers and other equipment valued at USD 13 million.
Photos via Niger MoD