Air Force spokesperson Olusola Akinboyewa said in a statement that a team led by Nigeria's Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar met with executives from Italy's Leonardo S.p.A., the manufacturer, in Rome who confirmed the first three M-346 aircraft were expected to be delivered by early 2025, with subsequent deliveries running until mid-2026.
The Trekker helicopters are expected by early 2026, Akinboyewa said."The M-346 and Trekker acquisitions are key steps towards fleet renewal," Abubakar was cited as saying, emphasizing the need for a maintenance hub in Nigeria to provide long-term support, particularly for the M-346 fleet.
More spending
Nigeria has ramped up military spending in recent years as it struggles to contain attacks by armed bandits in the northwest and a 15-year insurgency by Boko Haram and a Daesh affiliate known as ISWAP in the northeast.
Earlier this year, the West African country received five new aircraft, consisting of two TA T129 ATAK helicopters made by Türkiye.
In June, Nigeria took delivery of two "Huey" helicopters, in addition to two Trekkers it already acquired and 12 American-made A-29 Super Tucano light attack jets it received in 2021 to fight insurgents. It has pending deliveries for Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones.
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