During his official visit to Italy as part of a high-level delegation accompanying His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the AQABA Process meeting, the Honourable Minister of Defence, H.E. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON, mni, conducted a crucial inspection of defence production facilities operated by Leonardo S.p.A. in Northern Italy.
The Minister’s visit focused on two key divisions: the Leonardo Helicopters Division in Vergiate and the Leonardo Aircraft Division in Venegono. These facilities are currently responsible for assembling advanced military equipment for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), including the AW109 Trekker attack helicopters and the M-346 Fighter Attack Jets.
At the Leonardo Helicopters Division, the Minister reviewed the assembly process for the AW109 Trekker helicopters, with particular attention to the progress of the ten units being produced for the NAF. Of these, three helicopters are fully completed and ready for acceptance and delivery, while an additional three are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The remaining four are slated for delivery in early 2026.
Moving on to the Leonardo Aircraft Division, the Minister was briefed on the ongoing production of the M-346 Fighter Attack Jets. Six of the twenty-four aircraft ordered are at advanced stages of production, with three already undergoing flight tests. The remaining three are expected to enter testing shortly. These aircraft are part of Nigeria’s recent acquisition program aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The full delivery will occur in four tranches of six aircraft each, accompanied by armaments, support equipment, tools, spare parts, and comprehensive training and logistics support.
Minister Abubakar expressed his satisfaction with the high quality and timely delivery of both the helicopters and fighter jets. He also commended the professionalism and technical expertise demonstrated by Leonardo’s engineers and management throughout the production process.
This visit further underscores the commitment of the Tinubu Administration to strengthening Nigeria’s national defence capabilities through strategic acquisitions, high-level training, and robust international partnerships.
Signed
Mati Ali
PA (Media & Publicity) to the Honourable Minister
