By Bavoriat Clara
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has inspected the ongoing production of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopters and fighter jets at Leonardo S.p.A. defence facilities in Northern Italy.
The visit formed part of his official engagement in Italy as a member of the high-level delegation accompanying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the AQABA Process meeting.
According to a statement by the Minister’s PA (Media & Publicity), Mati Ali, the Minister visited two major Leonardo facilities—the Helicopters Division in Vergiate and the Aircraft Division in Venegono—where advanced military platforms for the NAF are currently being assembled.
At the Helicopters Division, the Minister assessed the progress of ten AW109 Trekker attack helicopters being produced for Nigeria. Three units are already completed and ready for delivery, another three are expected by the end of 2025, while the remaining four will be delivered in early 2026.
At the Aircraft Division, the Minister was briefed on the assembly of the M-346 Fighter Attack Jets. Six of the twenty-four ordered jets are at advanced stages of production, with three undergoing flight tests. Deliveries will be made in four batches of six aircraft each, along with weapons, support equipment, spare parts, and logistics and training packages.
Badaru expressed satisfaction with the production quality and adherence to schedule, commending Leonardo’s engineers and management for their professionalism.
He reaffirmed that the Tinubu Administration remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s defence capabilities through modern equipment acquisition, advanced training, and strong international partnerships.
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