Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded another milestone in its fleet modernisation programme with the successful completion of the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the first batch of three M-346 Fighter Attack (FA) aircraft at Leonardo Aircraft Division’s facility in Venegono, Italy.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

According to the statement, the acceptance exercise, conducted between June 29 and July 9, 2026, by a joint delegation of the Nigerian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence, marked the completion of all contractual acceptance requirements ahead of the aircraft’s delivery to Nigeria.

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The Air Force said the milestone aligns with the Chief of the Air Staff’s command philosophy of building a highly motivated, professional and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive air power in synergy with ground forces.

It stated that the three aircraft, designated NAF 01, NAF 02 and NAF 03, successfully met all contractual, technical and airworthiness requirements following comprehensive inspections by representatives of the NAF, the Ministry of Defence and Leonardo Aircraft Division.

The aircraft have now been formally certified for delivery and will soon be inducted into the NAF’s growing inventory of modern combat platforms.

Beyond the acceptance process, the delegation also held discussions with Leonardo Aircraft Division on pilot and maintenance training, logistics support and long-term fleet sustainment.

The team inspected the Full Mission Simulator, virtual reality-enabled training systems and other ground-based facilities designed to prepare NAF pilots and technical personnel for the effective operation and maintenance of the M-346 fleet.

According to the statement, these investments will strengthen indigenous training and technical capacity, enhance operational self-sufficiency and sustain mission readiness over the long term.

Commenting on the development, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the acquisition of the M-346 Fighter Attack aircraft as another strategic step towards strengthening the Nigerian Air Force’s operational capabilities.

He said the aircraft’s combination of advanced pilot training and frontline combat capability would significantly improve the Air Force’s ability to produce combat-ready aircrew while expanding its capacity to undertake precision strikes, close air support, air interdiction and other combat missions in response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.

The statement added that the successful Factory Acceptance Test reflects the Federal Government’s commitment under the administration of President Bola Tinubu to enhancing the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces through the acquisition of modern, technologically advanced and mission-ready platforms.

It noted that the M-346 programme represents a major investment in national defence, strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to protect its sovereignty while positioning the Nigerian Air Force among Africa’s leading operators of advanced multi-role combat aircraft.