The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has announced that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will significantly boost its aerial capabilities with the acquisition of 49 new, state-of-the-art aircraft by the end of 2026.
He made this known on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference held at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja. The conference is themed: “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships.”
According to Abubakar, the incoming fleet will include:
- Three CASA 295 transport aircraft
- Ten AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters
- Twelve AH-1Z attack helicopters
- Twenty-four M-346 fighter aircraft
He emphasized that the new platforms are technologically advanced and will require sophisticated maintenance procedures and highly trained personnel to operate and sustain them.
The planned expansion follows the successful delivery of 15 brand-new aircraft to the NAF in the last two years.
