The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has announced that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will acquire 49 state-of-the-art aircraft by the end of 2026 to boost its operational capacity.
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference in Abuja, Abubakar said the aircraft acquisition plan includes three CASA 295 transport planes, 10 AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, and 24 M-346 fighter jets.
“These aircraft are all high-tech platforms that require very sophisticated maintenance activities to operate effectively,” he said, highlighting the need for advanced, innovative, and data-driven maintenance practices within the force.
The conference, themed “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships,” was held at the NAF headquarters to address the importance of engineering capacity and maintenance culture in a rapidly evolving security landscape.
Abubakar noted that the expansion of the fleet underscores the need to match operational growth with robust support systems, stressing that logistics, spare parts, and ground support tools have received significant investment to ensure full serviceability of all operational platforms by the fourth quarter of 2025.
“In the last two years, NAF has reached new heights in operational capability. But this progress must be matched by robust support systems to ensure sustained air power delivery in pursuit of national security goals,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal A.I. Amodu, described aircraft engineering as the backbone of NAF’s mission. He emphasized that a proactive and responsive maintenance framework was critical in today’s security environment.
“The conference provides a vital platform to exchange ideas, develop innovative strategies, and reinforce a culture of excellence in aircraft engineering,” Amodu stated.
In line with efforts to enhance serviceability, NAF recently launched an Aircraft Life Cycle Directorate and has continued engaging global partners, including the United States, to fast-track the acquisition of attack helicopters.
Recall that in the past two years, the air force took delivery of 15 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.
