Nigeria receives special mission Citation CJ3s, AW109s

摘要

TWO CESSNA 525B CitationJet CJ3s modified for maritime security missions are ready to enter Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) service as part of the Deep Blue Project to combat insecurity in the country's maritime shipping corridors. The first aircraft was welcomed by a water cannon salute on May 12 at Ikeja Air Base, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. It was wearing taped-on temporary Israeli test registration 4X-CML (c/n 525B-0293, ex N328RC registered to the Bank of Utah) but, after arrival, these were peeled off to reveal Nigerian Air Force (NAF) serial NAF957. The arrival of the second aircraft, 4X-CMJ (c/n 525B-0349, ex-D-CJET of Air Hamburg Private Jets), has yet to be confirmed. They will be operated on behalf of NIMASA by the NAF's 107th Air Maritime Group at Benin City. Conversion work for their new role was carried out by Israel's Bird Aerosystems. They are equipped with airborne surveillance, information, and observation (ASIO) and MSIS mission management systems. In addition, NIMASA has taken delivery of three AW109SP GrandNew helicopters as another element of the Deep Blue Project. These comprise NN313 (c/n 22421, ex CSX81988), NN314 (c/n 22424, ex CSX81994) and NN315(c/n 22425, ex CSX81999). They will be flown on behalf of NIMASA by the Nigerian Navy at Naval Air Station Ojo, Lagos State.