Nigeria has completed a landmark military procurement, finalising the purchase of 24 M-346FA light fighter and attack aircraft from Italian aerospace and defence company Leonardo S.p.A., in what is the largest single military jet acquisition ever undertaken by a West African country.
The deal, valued at approximately €1.2 billion, includes aircraft production, logistics, training, maintenance, and long-term support services, underscoring Abuja’s push for sustained operational readiness rather than short-term capability gains. Initial production is already underway in Italy, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2025 and continue through to mid-2026.
The acquisition forms a central pillar of Nigeria’s broader military modernisation programme, particularly for the Nigerian Air Force, which has been under growing pressure to respond to multiple, overlapping security threats across the country. These include a prolonged jihadist insurgency in the northeast, rampant banditry and kidnappings in the northwest, and persistent communal violence in the Middle Belt.
Earlier approvals by Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council included a $618 million borrowing plan to finance the initial batch of six aircraft, alongside ammunition and support systems. The expanded order reflects both the scale of Nigeria’s security challenges and the government’s determination to enhance air combat, surveillance, and precision-strike capabilities.
The M-346FA, a multirole fighter derived from an advanced trainer platform, is designed for ground attack, close air support, reconnaissance, and air policing missions. Its ability to operate effectively in asymmetric warfare environments makes it particularly suited to Nigeria’s current security landscape, where insurgent and criminal groups often operate in difficult terrain.
The timing of the procurement also coincides with Nigeria’s increasingly assertive regional security posture. In recent months, Nigerian forces intervened in a coup attempt in neighbouring Benin after mutinous soldiers briefly seized strategic installations in Cotonou. Acting at the request of Benin’s government and with authorisation from Nigeria’s Senate, Nigerian air and ground units helped restore constitutional order, reinforcing Abuja’s role as a key security guarantor in West Africa.
Beyond immediate security concerns, the deal signals a strategic shift in Nigeria’s defence procurement policy. By deepening ties with Italy, Nigeria is diversifying away from traditional suppliers such as the United States, Russia, and China, while seeking more cost-effective platforms, reduced delivery delays, and stronger commitments to technology transfer and long-term maintenance.
Italian defence firms have increasingly positioned themselves as reliable partners for African militaries, offering modern systems tailored to regional needs and sustained technical support. For Nigeria, the partnership with Leonardo reflects a recalibration aimed at improving readiness, autonomy, and resilience within its armed forces.
As the new aircraft are inducted into service over the next two years, analysts say the expanded fleet could significantly alter Nigeria’s internal security dynamics and strengthen its influence in regional peacekeeping and stabilisation efforts, at a time when West Africa faces growing instability from coups, insurgencies, and cross-border threats.
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