Nigerian Air Force

Key facts

Official Name Nigerian Air Force
Local Name Nigerian Air Force
Country๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria
World rank#52
Active aircrafts167 as of 2025
Aircrafts on order94
Roundel

Roundel of Nigeria air force

Overview

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It was established in 1964 with its primary goal being the protection of Nigeria's airspace. Over the years, the NAF has evolved into a well-structured and equipped fighting force. It operates various aircraft types, including fighter jets, transport planes, helicopters, and surveillance drones. The primary functions of the NAF are to provide close air support to ground forces, conduct aerial reconnaissance and surveillance, engage in offensive air strikes, and transport personnel and equipment. The NAF has participated in various military operations both domestically and internationally, including peacekeeping missions. Some notable Nigerian Air Force operations include the Nigerian Civil War, ECOMOG missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram in Nigeria's northeast region. The NAF also prioritizes training and capacity building through partnerships with foreign air forces and the establishment of training institutions within the country.

Origin countries of aircrafts

Country Active Aircraft
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น Italy 39
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany 35
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom 28
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ Ex-USSR 22
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France 21
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China 14
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States 12
๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท Brazil 12
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ Czech Republic 11
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช Sweden 10
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น Austria 5
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain 4
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia 4
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ Pakistan 3

Evolution of Nigerian Air Force fleet

Aircrafts by type in 2025

Aircraft type Active
Helicopter Helicopter 65
Training Training 41
Transport Transport 27
Combat Combat 26
Other missions Other missions 8

Full inventory in 2025

Nigerian Air Force

Aircraft Type Model Origin Country Model Year Active ๐šซ YoY Ordered
CombatCombat Alpha Jet ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1978 12
0
0
CombatCombat F-7 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ 1966 11
0
0
CombatCombat JF-17 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ 2007 3
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AW109 ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 1976 17
+2
2
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-24/35 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ 1972 15
0
18
HelicopterHelicopter Mi-17/171 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ 1977 6
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter H215M/AS332 ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1978 5
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter T129 ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 1990 4
+4
2
HelicopterHelicopter H135 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท 1996 3
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter Bell 412 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1959 2
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AW139 ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 2003 1
0
0
HelicopterHelicopter AH-1Z ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1967 0
0
12
TransportTransport Dornier 128 ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช 1994 11
0
0
TransportTransport Dornier 228 ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช 1982 7
0
0
TransportTransport C-130H ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1956 2
0
0
TransportTransport ATR 42 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 1985 1
0
0
TransportTransport Citation CJ3 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1971 1
0
0
TransportTransport Citation Sovereign ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1971 1
+1
0
TrainingTraining EMB-314 (A-29) ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท 1983 12
0
0
TrainingTraining L-39 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ 1972 11
+1
0
TrainingTraining MFI-395 ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ช 1972 10
0
0
TrainingTraining MB-339 ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 1979 6
0
0
TrainingTraining DA42 ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น 2004 1
0
0
TrainingTraining Mi-34 ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ 1993 1
0
0
TrainingTraining M-346FA ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น 2015 0
0
24
Other missionsOther missions DA62 ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น 2015 4
0
0
Other missionsOther missions King Air 350 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1964 2
0
0
Other missionsOther missions King Air 360 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1964 2
+2
0

Nigerian Army

Nigerian Navy

Various public data, including Wikipedia, Flightglobal.com, SIPRI Arms Transfer and official government websites.