The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has announced that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will take delivery of 49 cutting-edge aircraft by the end of 2026 in a major step toward boosting Nigeria’s aerial defense capabilities.
Abubakar made the disclosure during the opening session of the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference held at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja. The conference, themed “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships,” gathered aviation experts, military stakeholders, and engineers to chart the future of air power in Nigeria.
The new fleet, according to the air chief, includes three CASA 295 transport aircraft, 10 AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, and 24 M-346 fighter aircraft, all of which are advanced platforms requiring cutting-edge maintenance and operational precision.
“These aircraft are high-tech platforms that require very sophisticated maintenance activities to operate effectively,” he emphasized, adding that the NAF must now fully embrace innovative and data-driven maintenance techniques to ensure the longevity and efficiency of its expanding fleet.
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Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the acquisition aligns with the force’s transformation agenda, highlighting that in the past two years, the NAF had made unprecedented strides in operational capability. He stressed that for these gains to be sustained, support systems, particularly in logistics, spare parts, and ground support equipment—must be strengthened.
He revealed that strategic investments have already been made to improve aircraft serviceability, with a target to ensure all operable platforms are mission-ready by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Also speaking at the conference, the Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal A.I. Amodu, described aircraft engineering as the core pillar that supports the NAF’s strategic objectives. He noted that the evolving global and regional security environment demands a proactive, responsive, and well-structured maintenance framework.
Amodu said the conference offers a critical platform to exchange forward-thinking ideas and reinforce a culture of excellence that will directly impact the force’s operational efficiency and combat readiness.
It would be recalled that in the last two years alone, the Nigerian Air Force has taken delivery of 15 brand-new aircraft, including six T-129 ATAK helicopters, two AW-109 Trekker Type A helicopters, three Beechcraft King Air planes, and four Diamond 62 reconnaissance aircraft.
