The Nigerian Air Force has asked the government for $24 million to refurbish its combat air wing. The MiG-21 Fishbed-Js are obsolescent and need new radars, avionics, and weapons. The Alphajet light attack planes are grounded due to a lack of spare parts. The US recently provided $4 million to get a dozen Alphajets and six C-130H transports back into operation. The Nigerian Air Force complains that the various military governments over the last 15 years have neglected the need to keep the Air Force up to date. The Nigerian Air Force has just received two Mi-35P attack helicopters from Russia and 16 L39Z Albatross combat-capable trainers from the Czech Republic, and has found the funding to reactivate twenty modified T18 Air Beetle trainers.--Stephen V Cole