Nigerian Troops; Deployment to Mali.

So 1,200 Nigerian Troops arrived Mali yesterday to help curb insurgents from Northern Mali (supposedly were the violent Boko-Haram sects are being trained). Included in this battalion of soldiers are the air-wing of the Nigerian Airforce, flying and transporting our troops as well as their equipments to Mali. The transport plane for this job is the Nigerian Airforce, United States made Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Pix below:-

This transport plane has a capacity for 92 passengers, 72 combat troops or 64 paratroopers in a cargo compartment that is approximately 41 feet (12 m) long, 9 feet (2.7 m) high, and 10 feet (3.0 m) wide. Unlike passenger airliners, the hercules is designed from the ground-up as a combat transport with loading from a hinged loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage. The Lockheed cargo plane design possesses a range of 1,100 nmi (1,300 mi; 2,000 km), takeoff capability from short and unprepared strips, and the ability to fly with one engine shut down.

Another Aircraft deployed to mali are the Nigerian Airforce Gunships. The Aerospatiale SA 330 Super Puma helicopters.

This is a four-bladed twin engine medium transport helicopter. She has 3crew members and carries 16passengers or troops. Its has well placed defense. Two of these babies were deployed to mali to give Nigerian troops ease of transport support.

The next aircraft are the deadliest of all the aircrafts deployed, there are fast and incredibly swift. They are the light attack Dornier Alpha jet E.

There are low support jet aircraft with a crew of 2(Pilot and Navigator) it has a combat radius of 610 km (329nmi 379mi) lo-lo-lo profile, gun pod, underwing weapons and two drop tanks. It has got a Maximum Speed of 1,000 km/h (540kn 621mph) at sea level. Its Weapon stock comprises of:-

• Guns: 1× 27 mm (1.06 in) Mauser 27 Revolver Cannons in centreline gun packed with 120 rounds or 1x 30 mm DEFA in centerline pod with 150 rds
• Rockets: 2× Matra rocket pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each; 2× CRV7 rocket pods with 19× 70 mm rockets each
• Missiles: 2× AIM 9 Sidewinders 2× Matra Magic II; 2× AGM-65 Maverick;
  
• Bombs: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) of payload on five external hardpoints including a variety of bombs (such as the Hunting BL755 Clusterbombs) or Drop Tanks for extended range.

one of our alpha jet pilot preping to leave for Bamako yesterday, at the Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after flight brefing.