More Nigerian Air Force acquisitions

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is continuing to modernise, with its Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar currently studying several options. Because, as he said at the 2024 NAF Training, Operations and Safety Seminar on December 4 in Abuja: “We have to rise to the threats posed by insurgency, terrorism and bandits.”

Image: Leonardo

The Leonardo M346FA equipped with a multi-mode Grifo radar, seen here at the Egyptian International Air Show in September, has been purchased by Nigeria, with the first of 24 aircraft on order to be delivered in early 2025. It will be the Nigerian Air Force’s most sophisticated aircraft. Image: Leonardo

Under the current government elected in May 2023, the NAF has acquired 12 advanced aircraft, that includes two King Air 360i (in November 2023/May 2024), four Diamond DA-62MPP by December 2023, four T-129 ATAKs (two in October 2024, two in November 2023) and two AW-109 Trekker helicopters (of ten believed to be on order).

Additionally, the CAS announced forthcoming deliveries of various ‘high-performance’ platforms, including the Leonardo M-346FA light attack jets (24), Airbus C-295 aircraft (two), and Bell AH-1Z attack helicopters (12). He also spoke of 12 second hand Alpha Jets coming from the French Air Force, six to be operationally restored and the other six for spare parts.

The Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal FO Edosa, while awarding wings to 28 new NAF pilots and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operators on December 4, said “14 new platforms had recently been delivered and 50 more are expected soon, raising the need for increased skilled aircrew. The pilots and UAV operators attended training courses,for fighter, helicopter, and UAVs in Nigeria, Egypt, and the United States.

Meanwhile Air Marshal Abubakar, visited Caverton Helicopters MRO facility in Lagos on December 13, to evaluate progress on the ongoing 2,500-hour and 5-year major inspections of two NAF Bell 412 helicopters (NAF 599 and NAF 600).

The visit highlighted the critical role of indigenous expertise in advancing NAF’s operational capabilities and fostering sustainable aviation solutions.

Earlier on November 12, representatives from Czech aerospace company Aero Vodochody visited the NAF HQ, when the CAS spoke of four decades of partnership with the company. He also affirmed his commitment to evaluate their proposals, that including reactivation, upgrades to existing L-39s, and potential acquisition of the L-39 Next Generation (NG).

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