The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has announced that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will expand its aerial fleet with the acquisition of 49 cutting-edge aircraft by the end of 2026.
He made this announcement on Wednesday during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference, held at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja. Themed “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships,” the conference focused on strategies to improve aircraft performance and operational readiness.
Air Marshal Abubakar stated that the new additions will include three CASA 295 transport aircraft, 10 AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, and 24 M-346 fighter jets. These advanced platforms, he noted, require sophisticated and highly technical maintenance procedures.
This planned expansion follows the successful acquisition of 15 new aircraft over the past two years, comprising six T-129 ATAK helicopters, two AW-109 Trekker Type A helicopters, three Beechcraft King Air planes, and four Diamond 62 reconnaissance aircraft.
