The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is preparing to enhance its combat capabilities with the acquisition of new fighter jets and helicopters. The latest additions include 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters.
In June, NAF announced plans to procure 50 new aircraft to strengthen its efforts against armed groups and terrorists. Over the past two years, the service has already received 12 Super Tucano jets, two DA-62 surveillance aircraft, T-129 ATAK helicopters, and two Diamond-62 multi-purpose aircraft, among others.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Public Relations and Information for NAF, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, revealed that Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, along with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Finance, were in Italy to finalize the acquisition of these new aircraft.
Akinboyewa shared that the first three M-346 jets will be delivered by early 2025, with the rest arriving by mid-2026. The additional 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters are expected to be delivered by early 2026.
While in Italy, Air Marshal Abubakar also inspected six M-346 jets previously purchased, with three nearing completion. He discussed establishing a maintenance hub in Nigeria to support the M-346 fleet and ensure long-term operational readiness.
The M-346 jets, designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, will significantly boost Nigeria’s air combat capabilities, while the AW-109 helicopters will support roles like Combat Search and Rescue, tactical airlift, and medical evacuation.
These acquisitions align with the Air Chief’s vision to transform NAF for greater agility and resilience by optimizing the force structure for enhanced operational effectiveness.
