NAF acquires 12 new fighter aircraft, 50 more expected
The Nigerian Air Force said it has acquired 12 additional fighter aircraft for the operational capabilities of the Force.
The new additions to the NAF fleet include 2 King Air 360i light transport aircraft, 4 T-129 ATAK helicopters, 2 Agusta Westland 109 Trekker, and 4 DA-62 surveillance aircraft.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, stated this on Saturday during a parley with NAF Veteran residents in Kaduna.
He added that moving forward, the NAF is poised to take delivery of 24 M-346 fighter aircraft and 10 additional Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters from Italy.
According to him, Other platforms being expected were two additional T-129 ATAK helicopters from Turkey, 3 CASA 295 transport aircraft from Spain and 12 AH-1Z Vipper helicopters from the United States.
He said the NAF would take additional delivery of 50 brand-new aircraft between December 2025 and 2026.
According to the Air Chief, the acquisition of the new aircraft is part of the NAF’s efforts to boost its operational effectiveness.
In addition to the acquisition of new aircraft, he said the NAF also adopted a predictive maintenance culture, which is aimed at reducing equipment failures and downtime.
Abubakar, who was represented by NAF’s Chief of Administration, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sani, at the event, noted that in the last 18 months, the force has made significant strides in various areas.
These, he said, include the “Overhauling of airfield infrastructure, enhancement of operational effectiveness, the establishment of new branches and directorates, adoption of predictive maintenance culture, research and development, boosting strategic partnerships, enhancing welfare, and infrastructural renewal.”
He said, “The Nigerian Air Force is committed to becoming a more effective and agile force capable of addressing the country’s security challenges.
“We have made significant progress in the last 18 months, and we are committed to sustaining this momentum. The acquisition of the new aircraft is a testament to our commitment to becoming a more effective and agile force.
“The NAF has delivered an additional 12 new platforms, each infusing unique capabilities to our ongoing operations. These include 2 King Air 360i light transport aircraft, 4 T-129 ATAK helicopters, 2 Agusta Westland 109 Trekker and 4 DA-62 surveillance aircraft.
“The NAF is poised to take delivery of 24 M-346 fighter aircraft and 10 additional Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters from Italy.
“Other platforms being expected were two additional T-129 ATAK helicopters from Turkey, 3 CASA 295 transport aircraft from Spain and 12 AH-1Z Vipper helicopters from the United States.
“In other words, the Nigerian Air Force will take additional delivery of 50 brand new aircraft between December this year and 2026.
“We have shifted towards predictive maintenance, which enables us to assess the condition of our aircraft and other equipment and anticipate and schedule maintenance ahead of time.”
Abubakar added that the NAF has established new branches and directorates to focus on specific areas, including land administration, airworthiness, transformation and innovation, civil-military relations, and peace support operations.
He also noted that the NAF boosted its strategic partnerships with foreign air forces and exhibitors, which are aimed at enhancing its capabilities and operational effectiveness.
“The establishment of these new branches and directorates is aimed at enhancing our operational effectiveness and ensuring that we are better equipped to address the country’s security challenges.
“We have established partnerships with foreign air forces and exhibitors, which has enabled us to access new technologies and expertise and enhance our operational effectiveness,” Abubakar said
On welfare, Abubakar said the NAF has initiated several projects aimed at improving the living conditions of its personnel, including affordable housing, meal subsidies, and priority admission for NAF personnel’s wards.
“We are committed to ensuring that our personnel are well taken care of and that they have access to the resources and support they need to perform their duties effectively,” the CAS added.
