From Molly Kilete
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has concluded plans to expand its aerial fleet with the acquisition of 49 new state-of-the-art aircraft by the end of 2026 to boost its operational capability.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, who made this known, listed the 49 fleets to include three CASA 295 transport aircraft, 10 AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, and 24 M-346 fighter aircraft. He said all of these are high-tech platforms that require advanced and sophisticated maintenance procedures.
Abubakar disclosed this at the opening of the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference themed, “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships,” held at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja.
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The acquisition, according to the NAF Chief, comes on the back of the delivery of 15 brand-new aircraft in the last two years, including six T-129 ATAK helicopters, two AW-109 Trekker Type A helicopters, three Beechcraft King Air aircraft, and four Diamond 62 reconnaissance planes.
While noting that these aircraft are all high-tech platforms that require very sophisticated maintenance activities to operate effectively, Abubakar stressed the need for NAF personnel to embrace “advanced, innovative, and data-driven aircraft and armament maintenance practices.”
He said the ongoing fleet expansion underscores the need to strengthen engineering capacity and improve maintenance culture to match the demands of a modern air force.
“In the last two years, the 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 said.
To ensure all operable platforms are fully serviceable by the fourth quarter of 2025, the NAF chief revealed that significant investments have been made in logistics, spare parts, and ground support tools to maintain and upgrade existing aircraft.
Earlier in his address, the Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal A.I. Amodu, while noting that aircraft engineering remains the backbone of NAF’s mission and objectives, said that the rapidly evolving security environment demands a proactive and responsive maintenance framework.
He said the conference is aimed at providing a vital platform to exchange ideas, develop innovative strategies, and reinforce a culture of excellence in aircraft engineering that directly impacts the NAF’s operational readiness and efficiency.
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