FG Acquires 24 Fighter Jets, NAF Helicopters as Defence Minister Inspects Production in Italy
Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru has carried out a detailed inspection of Nigerian Air Force aircraft and helicopters currently under production at Leonardo S.p.A’s defence manufacturing plants in northern Italy, PulseNets learnt.
Mr Badaru, who was among President Bola Tinubu’s delegation to the AQABA Process meeting, made stopovers at Leonardo’s Helicopters Division in Vergiate and Aircraft Division in Venegono, where major aerial platforms for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) are being assembled.
According to information obtained by PulseNets, the minister assessed progress on the ten AW109 Trekker attack helicopters being manufactured for Nigeria. Out of the batch, three units have been completed and are ready for delivery, while another three are expected before the end of 2025. The remaining four are projected to arrive by early 2026.
PulseNets further learnt that the minister also evaluated ongoing production of the M-346 Fighter Attack Jets, with six aircraft currently at advanced stages of completion. Three have already entered flight-testing, while the next three are scheduled for test flights soon.
“The entire fleet of 24 aircraft will be delivered in four batches — each fully equipped with weapons, maintenance tools, spare parts, and logistics support,” a source familiar with the project told PulseNets.
Mr Badaru was said to have expressed deep satisfaction with the quality and precision of the engineering work, commending Leonardo’s technical team for their professionalism and attention to detail.
“What we’ve seen here reflects a serious partnership and a renewed commitment by President Tinubu’s administration to ensure our military has the modern assets needed to protect the nation,” he told PulseNets.
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The minister emphasised that these acquisitions underline the government’s resolve to modernise Nigeria’s defence capabilities and reinforce international security cooperation, particularly with Italy — a key defence partner.
