Nigeria TV Info reports:

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has revealed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will expand its aerial capabilities with the acquisition of 49 advanced aircraft by the end of 2026. He made this known at the 2025 Aircraft Engineering Conference held at NAF Headquarters in Abuja. Themed “Enhancing Aircraft Serviceability in the NAF through Strong Maintenance Culture and Strategic Partnerships,” the conference highlighted the need for cutting-edge maintenance support as NAF prepares to receive 3 CASA 295 transport planes, 10 AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, and 24 M-346 fighter jets.

This follows the induction of 15 new aircraft over the past two years, including 6 T-129 ATAK helicopters and 4 Diamond 62 reconnaissance planes. Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized that the incoming platforms are technologically advanced and will require sophisticated, data-driven maintenance to operate at peak efficiency. He noted that major investments have already been made in logistics, spare parts, and ground support equipment to ensure the entire fleet is fully serviceable by Q4 2025. The CAS stressed the importance of aligning operational growth with strong engineering support to meet Nigeria’s evolving security needs.