July 16, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced plans to acquire 49 new aircraft by the end of 2026, as part of efforts to enhance its operational capabilities.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, disclosed this on Wednesday during the opening of 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 focused on boosting engineering efficiency and aircraft readiness within the force.
“These aircraft are all high-tech platforms that require very sophisticated maintenance to operate effectively,” Abubakar said, stressing the need for a highly skilled and responsive engineering workforce to support the incoming fleet.
He revealed that the NAF had already taken delivery of 15 new aircraft in the last two years.
These include six T-129 ATAK helicopters, two AW-109 Trekker Type A helicopters, three Beechcraft King Air planes, and four Diamond 62 reconnaissance aircraft.
Air Marshal Abubakar also highlighted ongoing investments in logistics, spare parts, and ground support equipment, expressing confidence that all operable aircraft in the NAF’s fleet would be fully serviceable by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Also speaking, Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal A.I. Amodu, emphasized the role of innovation and proactive maintenance in addressing the demands of a rapidly evolving security environment.
“Aircraft engineering is the backbone that supports the NAF’s mission and objectives,” he said, urging personnel to cultivate a strong culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability in maintenance operations.
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