Nigerian Air Force
Key facts
Official Name | Nigerian Air Force |
Local Name | Nigerian Air Force |
Country | ๐ณ๐ฌ Nigeria |
World rank | #52 |
Active aircrafts | 167 as of 2025 |
Aircrafts on order | 94 |
Roundel |
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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 | |
---|---|---|
๐ฎ๐น Italy | 39 | |
๐ฉ๐ช Germany | 35 | |
๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | 28 | |
๐จ๐ณ Ex-USSR | 22 | |
๐ซ๐ท France | 21 | |
๐จ๐ณ China | 14 | |
๐บ๐ธ United States | 12 | |
๐ง๐ท Brazil | 12 | |
๐จ๐ฟ Czech Republic | 11 | |
๐ธ๐ช Sweden | 10 | |
๐ฆ๐น Austria | 5 | |
๐ช๐ธ Spain | 4 | |
๐ฎ๐ฉ Indonesia | 4 | |
๐ต๐ฐ Pakistan | 3 |
Evolution of Nigerian Air Force fleet
Aircrafts by type in 2025
Aircraft type | Active | |
---|---|---|
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65 | |
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41 | |
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27 | |
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26 | |
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8 |
Full inventory in 2025
Nigerian Air Force
Aircraft Type | Model | Origin Country | Model Year | Active | ๐ซ YoY | Ordered | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Alpha Jet | ๐ฉ๐ช ๐ซ๐ท | 1978 | 12 | 0 |
0 |
|
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F-7 | ๐จ๐ณ | 1966 | 11 | 0 |
0 |
|
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JF-17 | ๐จ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฐ | 2007 | 3 | 0 |
0 |
|
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AW109 | ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฎ๐น | 1976 | 17 | +2 |
2 |
|
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Mi-24/35 | ๐จ๐ณ | 1972 | 15 | 0 |
18 |
|
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Mi-17/171 | ๐จ๐ณ | 1977 | 6 | 0 |
0 |
|
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H215M/AS332 | ๐ฉ๐ช ๐ซ๐ท | 1978 | 5 | 0 |
0 |
|
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T129 | ๐ฎ๐น | 1990 | 4 | +4 |
2 |
|
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H135 | ๐ซ๐ท | 1996 | 3 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Bell 412 | ๐บ๐ธ | 1959 | 2 | 0 |
0 |
|
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AW139 | ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฎ๐น | 2003 | 1 | 0 |
0 |
|
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AH-1Z | ๐บ๐ธ | 1967 | 0 | 0 |
12 |
|
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Dornier 128 | ๐ฉ๐ช | 1994 | 11 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Dornier 228 | ๐ฉ๐ช | 1982 | 7 | 0 |
0 |
|
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C-130H | ๐บ๐ธ | 1956 | 2 | 0 |
0 |
|
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ATR 42 | ๐ซ๐ท ๐ฎ๐น | 1985 | 1 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Citation CJ3 | ๐บ๐ธ | 1971 | 1 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Citation Sovereign | ๐บ๐ธ | 1971 | 1 | +1 |
0 |
|
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EMB-314 (A-29) | ๐ง๐ท | 1983 | 12 | 0 |
0 |
|
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L-39 | ๐จ๐ฟ | 1972 | 11 | +1 |
0 |
|
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MFI-395 | ๐ธ๐ช | 1972 | 10 | 0 |
0 |
|
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MB-339 | ๐ฎ๐น | 1979 | 6 | 0 |
0 |
|
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DA42 | ๐ฆ๐น | 2004 | 1 | 0 |
0 |
|
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Mi-34 | ๐จ๐ณ | 1993 | 1 | 0 |
0 |
|
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M-346FA | ๐ฎ๐น | 2015 | 0 | 0 |
24 |
|
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DA62 | ๐ฆ๐น | 2015 | 4 | 0 |
0 |
|
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King Air 350 | ๐บ๐ธ | 1964 | 2 | 0 |
0 |
|
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King Air 360 | ๐บ๐ธ | 1964 | 2 | +2 |
0 |
Nigerian Army
Aircraft Type | Model | Origin Country | Model Year | Active | ๐ซ YoY | Ordered | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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UH-1H | ๐บ๐ธ | 1959 | 2 | +2 |
0 |
|
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MD530F | ๐บ๐ธ | 1967 | 0 | 0 |
36 |
|
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CN235 | ๐ช๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ฉ | 1988 | 4 | +4 |
0 |
Nigerian Navy
Aircraft Type | Model | Origin Country | Model Year | Active | ๐ซ YoY | Ordered | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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AW109 | ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฎ๐น | 1976 | 9 | +3 |
0 |
|
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AW139 | ๐ฌ๐ง ๐ฎ๐น | 2003 | 1 | +1 |
0 |