Nigeria’s Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru has commended the progress of aircraft production for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) during a strategic visit to Leonardo S.p.A’s facilities in northern Italy, describing it as a pivotal step in the country’s military modernization drive.

Badaru, who joined President Bola Tinubu’s delegation to the AQABA Process security forum, toured Leonardo’s Vergiate helicopter division and Venegono aircraft site on Wednesday. The inspection focused on the assembly of 10 AW109 Trekker attack helicopters and six M-346 light combat jets commissioned for the NAF.

According to officials, three of the AW109 helicopters are complete and ready for delivery, with three more expected by year-end and the final four scheduled for early 2026. The M-346 jets—part of a 24-aircraft procurement—are arriving in four tranches, with three currently undergoing flight tests and three more nearing completion. The full package includes armaments, spare parts, and logistics support.

“This demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s commitment to modernizing the armed forces and strengthening defense partnerships,” Badaru said, praising Leonardo’s engineers for their professionalism and technical expertise.

The visit underscores Nigeria’s strategic push to enhance its aerial capabilities amid persistent security challenges in the northeast and northwest, where insurgency and banditry continue to threaten stability. The Attorney General’s office noted that the aircraft acquisitions are designed to boost rapid response operations and border surveillance.