Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has conducted a detailed inspection of ongoing production lines for Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft and helicopters at Leonardo S.p.A.'s defence manufacturing facilities in northern Italy, expressing strong satisfaction with the progress and quality of work.The visit, part of a high-level delegation accompanying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Aqaba Process Heads of State Meeting in Rome, took Badaru to two key Leonardo divisions: the Helicopters Division in Vergiate and the Aircraft Division in Venegono. These sites are assembling advanced military assets for the NAF, including AW109 Trekker attack helicopters and M-346 Fighter Attack Jets, under a major procurement program designed to enhance Nigeria's aerial combat and tactical capabilities.At the Vergiate facility, Badaru toured the assembly lines for the AW109 Trekker helicopters, which are tailored for the NAF's counter-insurgency and rapid response operations. He received technical briefings from Leonardo engineers on integration of avionics, weapon systems, and mission-specific customizations. Moving to Venegono, the minister observed the production of the M-346 jets, a versatile light combat aircraft capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Leonardo officials reported that six of the 24 ordered jets are at advanced stages, with three already in flight testing and the remaining three slated to begin shortly. Deliveries are structured in four tranches of six aircraft each, including full armaments, spare parts, tools, training programs, and logistics support, with the first batch expected by early 2025 and completion by mid-2026.In remarks following the tour, Badaru praised the Italian firm's professionalism and efficiency. "I am impressed by the pace of production and the high standards being maintained. This partnership is crucial for modernizing our armed forces and addressing security challenges head-on," he said, according to a statement from his media aide. The minister emphasized that these acquisitions align with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda, bolstering the NAF's operational readiness against threats like banditry and insurgency in the North Central and Northeast regions.The inspection builds on earlier visits by NAF technical teams and underscores deepening Nigeria-Italy defence ties. Leonardo, a global leader in aerospace, defence, and security, has positioned these platforms as pivotal for Nigeria's air superiority, with potential for local maintenance hubs to sustain long-term capabilities.
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