Nigerian air force outlines fleet development plans
Air force reveals key acquisition programmes for the coming years, including more T129 ATAK helicopters and Aksungur UAVs.
Nigeria’s air force has outlined its fleet acquisition plans, which includes new fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters as well as UAVs from China and Turkey.
Abuja’s fleet plans were laid out in an illustration celebrating the first year in office of air force chief Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.
While listing “additional expected aircraft”, the illustration did not provide specific timelines.
The main aircraft expected to join the fleet are 24 Leonardo M-346FAs. In July, the air force revealed that it completed factory acceptance for the first three examples at Venegono, Italy. The Nigerian air force has also sent 13 personnel to Venegono to learn how to support the new aircraft.
In addition, Nigeria expects to receive three Airbus C295 tactical transports. In March, media reports emerged indicating that Abuja sought three of the medium airlifters.
Existing fixed-wing aircraft are also getting updates, including six Aero Vodochody L-39ZAs, which received an avionics upgrade in the Czech Republic. A Lockheed Martin C-130H also received periodic depot maintenance in Portugal.
The illustration indicated that a single ATR 42 maritime patrol aircraft, NAF930, has seen a “reactivation.” This is likely due to the recent crash of a sister aircraft, NAF931, that killed 25 passengers and nine crew. Abuja had just two examples of the surveillance type prior to the loss.
Abuja also confirmed the future arrival of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters. Work recently started on the service’s lead example at Bell’s Amarillo assembly line.
In addition, it aims to double its fleet of Turkish Aerospace A129 ATAK helicopters with the addition of six more examples.
Five new utility helicopters, comprising three Leonardo AW109s and two Airbus Helicopters H125s, were delivered in September. In the future, Abuja expects to get seven additional AW109s as well as a single H225.
For uncrewed aircraft, Nigeria revealed plans to obtain 12 Baykar Aksungur twin-turboprop UAVs, as well as two Chinese-produced CASC CH-4Ds.
On the service’s mission, Aneke has this to say: “To enhance and sustain a highly motivated, professional, and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower effects in synergy with surface forces for the realization of national security objectives.”
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