The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is poised to enhance its operational capabilities through the acquisition of a total of 34 new aircraft.
This fleet will consist of 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters, a strategic initiative aimed at fortifying the NAF’s efforts in combating armed gangs and terrorist groups within the country.
This acquisition is part of a broader initiative by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which is focused on improving national security across Nigeria.
Previously, the NAF had announced an ambitious plan to procure a total of 50 new aircraft to bolster its combat capabilities.
To date, the force has successfully received several key additions to its fleet, including 12 Super Tucano jets, two DA-62 surveillance aircraft, T-129 ATAK helicopters, and two Diamond-62 multi-purpose aircraft.
These acquisitions are all part of the NAF’s ongoing effort to enhance its operational readiness.
In a statement released on Sunday, October 13, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, who serves as the Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, confirmed that Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, along with other officials from both the Ministries of Defence and Finance, traveled to Italy to finalize the acquisition deal for the new aircraft. Akinboyewa elaborated that a team of NAF experts, led by the Chief of the Air Staff, participated in a Programme Management Review Meeting in Italy with representatives from Leonardo S.P.A. This meeting was crucial for finalizing the arrangements for the acquisition of the 24 M-346 jets and the 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters.
In terms of delivery timelines, Akinboyewa disclosed that the first three of the 24 M-346 jets are scheduled to be delivered by early 2025, with additional deliveries continuing until mid-2026. Furthermore, the ten AW-109 helicopters are anticipated to arrive by early 2026. During the Review Meeting, the Chief of Air Staff received updates on the delivery schedules, affirming that the initial three units of the M-346 aircraft are on track for early 2025 delivery, while the remaining units will be delivered progressively through mid-2026. Additionally, he noted that the Trekkers are expected to arrive by early 2026.
During his visit to Italy, Air Marshal Abubakar took the opportunity to inspect six M-346 jets that had been previously purchased from Leonardo, with three of these jets nearing completion. In addition to the aircraft discussions, the Air Chief engaged in talks with executives from Leonardo to explore the establishment of a long-term partnership and the potential for setting up a maintenance hub in Nigeria, which would provide ongoing support for the M-346 fleet.
