The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is set to strengthen its combat capabilities with the acquisition of 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters.
This follows the NAF’s earlier announcement in June of its plan to procure 50 new aircraft to bolster its fight against armed groups and terrorists.
The NAF has already added several advanced aircraft to its fleet in the past two years, including 12 Super Tucano planes, two DA-62 surveillance aircraft, T-129 ATAK helicopters, and two Diamond-62 multi-purpose aircraft.
According to Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, along with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Finance, recently traveled to Italy to finalize the acquisition of the jets.
The M-346 jets are expected to significantly enhance the NAF’s air combat capabilities, as they are equipped for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The first three M-346 units are scheduled for delivery by early 2025, with the remainder arriving through mid-2026.
Additionally, with two Trekker helicopters already in the NAF’s inventory, the acquisition of 10 more by early 2026 will further enhance combat support roles, including search and rescue, tactical airlift, and medical evacuation missions.
This acquisition is part of the NAF’s broader strategy to renew its fleet and improve its operational effectiveness.
The Chief of Air Staff also emphasized the need for a maintenance hub in Nigeria to provide long-term support for the M-346 fleet.
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