Nigeria to take delivery of 24 fighter jets worth €1.2b from Italian firm

Nigeria has officially finalized a €1.2 billion agreement to acquire 24 M-346FA fighter jets from the Italian defense company, Leonardo, marking what is widely regarded as the largest military aircraft purchase ever by a West African country.

The acquisition, according to Nigeria’s Defence sources, forms a key part of ongoing efforts to modernize the Nigerian Air Force, with the aircraft expected to be delivered in phased batches over the coming years.

This procurement, the sources say, significantly exceeds previous regional acquisitions, including Nigeria’s earlier purchases of smaller jet fleets such as the JF-17.

The phased delivery batches will start with the first three jets scheduled to arrive in early 2026 while the full fleet of 24 aircraft is expected to be operational by mid-2026.

The contract encompasses 25 years of logistical support and grants Leonardo exclusivity for maintenance operations.

This includes the planned establishment of a dedicated maintenance hub in Nigeria to ensure long-term readiness.

The M-346FA (Fighter Attack) variant will serve as a multi-role platform for advanced pilot training, close air support, air interdiction, and tactical reconnaissance.

They are intended to replace the Nigerian Air Force’s aging Dassault Alpha Jet fleet.

The new jets will complement existing assets like the A-29 Super Tucano and JF-17 Thunder to bolster Nigeria’s counterterrorism and internal security efforts.

This acquisition was initiated under the previous administration and saw final “bottlenecks” removed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure immediate production and delivery.