Vice President of Messrs Leonardo, Mr Claudio Sabatino, has assured the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Mashal Hasan Abubakar, of his company’s unwavering commitment to the timely delivery of the M-346 fighter aircraft, beginning with the first batch of 6 expected in Nigeria before the end of Year 2024.
Mr Sabatino spoke when he paid a visit to Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters Abuja on Wednesday, 17 April 2024.
While thanking the CAS for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage, Mr Sabatino also stated that further engagement between the NAF and his Company would be necessary to conclude other aspects of the project such as the commencement of pilots and engineering training.
According to a statement by Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Mr Claudio assured the CAS that when finally completed, the maintenance of the aircraft fleet would not constitute a challenge as there is a binding agreement for Leonardo’s maintenance support for the minimum of 25 years.
He also noted that the manufacturing of the aircraft fleet has reached an appreciable state and is being carried out with the utmost skill and expertise.
The assurance of long-term maintenance support provided by Leonardo was particularly met with appreciation by the CAS, who recognized the inherent value of such commitment in ensuring the sustained operational readiness of the entire aircraft fleet.
Reflecting on the journey thus far, Air Marshal Abubakar also acknowledged the challenges overcome and expressed optimism for the future trajectory of the partnership. Envisioning the operational impact that the M-346 fighter aircraft brings to fore, Air Marshal Abubakar went on to underscore its dual role in bolstering training capabilities and augmenting operational effectiveness in diverse mission scenarios.
Moreover, the prospect of Close air support, Air Interdiction, and tactical reconnaissance as well as Advanced Pilot Training capabilities inherent in the M-346 fighter aircraft heralded a new prospect for NAF’s operational versatility.
The CAS further proposed the establishment of a dedicated Program Management Office, tasked with overseeing all facets of the collaboration.
Air Marshal Abubakar also used the opportunity of the visit to reiterate the significance of Messr Leonardo’s physical presence in Nigeria as a maintenance hub for their long list of African clienteles, whole also emphasizing the need for close coordination and synergy in achieving shared objectives with regards to the expeditious delivery of the fleet.
Moving forward, both parties concurred on the importance of regular dialogue and collaboration as well as scheduling future meetings to delve into detailed arrangements on logistics, maintenance protocols and configuration requirements.
The Federal Government is acquiring 24 x M-346 fighter aircraft from Messrs Leonardo of Italy in a move that marks a significant step in NAF’s ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet as well as bolster its operation effectiveness.
The aircraft is expected to arrive in Nigeria in 4 trenches of 6 each, with the first trench billed to arrive before the end of Year 2024.