High brass from the Nigerian Air Drive [NAF], alongside officers from the Protection and Finance Ministries, just lately made a visit to Italy to seal the deal on buying 24 M-346 fighter jets and 10 AW109 Trekker helicopters from Leonardo.
Throughout the go to, the delegation, led by Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, acquired a firsthand have a look at the primary six jets, with three nearing completion. Nigeria’s workforce was briefed on the supply timeline, with the primary three jets anticipated to land in 2025.
Deliveries will proceed by way of mid-2026, whereas the helicopters are slated to reach in early 2025. Plans are additionally underway to ascertain a program administration workplace and a help heart in Nigeria to maintain operations working easily.
The M-346 jets will considerably increase NAF’s fight capabilities, dealing with each air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, whereas the AW109 helicopters will tackle key roles like search and rescue, tactical transport, and medevac. These acquisitions are an important a part of Nigeria’s technique to modernize its air fleet, aiming for extra agility and operational effectivity.
The Leonardo M-346 is a flexible jet, designed for each pilot coaching and light-weight fight. It’s 11.49 meters lengthy with a 9.72-meter wingspan and a max takeoff weight of 9,500 kg. Powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbojet engines, the jet can hit speeds over 1,060 km/h and soar at altitudes of as much as 13,716 meters. Identified for its agility, the M-346 can pull off complicated aerial maneuvers, simulating trendy fight plane.
This jet can pack a punch too. With 9 exterior hardpoints, it may be armed with air-to-air missiles just like the AIM-9 Sidewinder, air-to-surface missiles, guided bombs, and even recon pods. Its superior avionics, built-in with a classy weapons management system, make it a precision strike platform. Pilots profit from multifunction shows and helmet-mounted shows [HMDs], guaranteeing optimum coordination in high-stakes missions.
Although it’s primarily used to coach pilots transitioning to fighters just like the F-35 or Eurofighter Storm, the M-346 can even step in for gentle fight missions. With a variety of as much as 2,500 km utilizing further gasoline tanks, it will probably deal with prolonged missions with minimal logistics.
Its cutting-edge tech additionally features a system that simulates real-world fight situations, providing high-efficiency pilot coaching without having to deploy costlier fight jets.
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