Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Enhances Combat Capabilities with New Helicopter and Jet Acquisitions
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is poised to enhance its combat capabilities with the planned acquisition of an additional fleet of fighter helicopters. The procurement includes 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters. This initiative is part of a broader strategy announced in June to acquire 50 new aircraft aimed at bolstering operations against armed groups and terrorist threats.
In the past two years, the Air Force has already received 12 Super Tucano aircraft, two additional DA-62 surveillance planes, T-129 ATAK helicopters, and two Diamond-62 Multi-Purpose aircraft, demonstrating its commitment to modernizing its fleet.
According to a statement released on Sunday by Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, who serves as the Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, alongside officials from the Ministries of Defence and Finance, traveled to Italy to finalize the deal for the jets.
Akinboyewa explained, “A team of NAF experts, led by the Chief of the Air Staff, recently took part in a Programme Management Review Meeting in Italy with Leonardo S.P.A. The meeting aimed to finalize the arrangements for the acquisition of 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and an additional 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters, building on the two already acquired by the NAF.”
He further noted that during this meeting, the Nigerian delegation was informed that the first three of the 24 M-346 jets are expected to be delivered by early 2025, with the remainder scheduled for delivery through mid-2026. “With two Trekkers already procured, the additional ten are anticipated to arrive by early 2026,” Akinboyewa added.
In Italy, the Chief of Air Staff also took the opportunity to inspect the first batch of six M-346 jets already ordered from Leonardo, with three of these nearly finished. “During his visit, he had a strategic meeting at Leonardo’s headquarters in Rome, where he engaged with senior executives to solidify a long-term partnership between the NAF and the company. He emphasized the importance of establishing a maintenance hub in Nigeria to provide ongoing support for the M-346 fleet,” Akinboyewa reported.
The M-346 jets are equipped with advanced systems capable of executing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, which Akinboyewa stated would significantly enhance Nigeria’s aerial combat capabilities. He also highlighted that the AW-109 helicopters would play vital roles in combat support, including Combat Search and Rescue, tactical airlift, and Medical Evacuation.
“The acquisitions of the M-346 jets and Trekker helicopters represent crucial steps in the fleet renewal process, aligning with the CAS Command Philosophy to transform the NAF into a more agile and resilient force, emphasizing the continual optimization of operational effectiveness,” Akinboyewa concluded.
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