Nigerian Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has conducted an inspection of helicopters and fighter jets for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Italy.
The inspection came as a part of the delegation accompanying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the AQABA Process meeting.
The minister’s visit focused on two key divisions at the defence production facilities operated by Leonardo S.p.A. in northern Italy: the Leonardo Helicopters Division in Vergiate and the Leonardo Aircraft Division in Venegono.
These facilities are currently responsible for assembling advanced military equipment for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), including the AW109 Trekker attack helicopters and the M-346 Fighter Attack Jets.
At the Leonardo Helicopters Division, the minister reviewed the assembly process for the AW109 Trekker helicopters, with particular attention to the progress of the ten units being produced for the NAF.
Of these, three helicopters are fully completed and ready for acceptance and delivery, while an additional three are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The remaining four are slated for delivery in early 2026.
Moving on to the Leonardo Aircraft Division, Abubakar was briefed on the ongoing production of the M-346 Fighter Attack Jets.
Six of the 24 aircraft ordered are at advanced stages of production, with three already undergoing flight tests.
The remaining three are expected to enter testing shortly.
These aircraft are part of Nigeria’s recent acquisition programme aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The full delivery will occur in four tranches of six aircraft each, accompanied by armaments, support equipment, tools, spare parts, and comprehensive training and logistics support.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the high quality and timely delivery of both the helicopters and fighter jets.
He also commended the professionalism and technical expertise demonstrated by Leonardo’s engineers and management throughout the production process.
The Personal Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Mati Ali, noted in a press release on the development: “This visit further underscores the commitment of the Tinubu Administration to strengthening Nigeria’s national defence capabilities through strategic acquisitions, high-level training, and robust international partnerships.”
