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 structured to address both internal security threats and conventional external defense roles, organized into six commands: Tactical Air Command, Special Operations Command, Mobility Command, Air Training Command, Ground Training Command, and Logistics Command. This structure is underpinned by a strategic doctrine of "ACTIVE DEFENCE, FORWARD ENGAGEMENT," which dictates a defensively-oriented strategic posture while maintaining a tactically offensive approach. Doctrinally, the NAF prioritizes the attainment of air superiority as a prerequisite for any successful military operation and is prepared to employ air power either independently or in conjunction with other services.

Operationally, the NAF is heavily engaged in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, primarily in the northeast of the country against Boko Haram and other insurgent groups. Its contributions are integral to the Multi-National Joint Task Force. These engagements involve a wide spectrum of air operations, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), close air support for ground forces, and air interdiction to disrupt enemy logistics and freedom of movement. The NAF's involvement in these asymmetric warfare scenarios has shaped its operational focus and procurement strategies, emphasizing precision strikes and force protection.

To meet the demands of this operational tempo, the NAF has undertaken a significant modernization and fleet expansion program, by the acquisition of a diverse range of platforms from various international partners. Recent additions include the PAC JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter, the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, and orders for Leonardo M-346FA light combat aircraft. Rotary-wing capabilities have been enhanced with new attack helicopters, including the TAI T-129 and Bell AH-1Z. A critical component of this modernization is the expansion of its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fleet, incorporating systems like the Wing Loong II and Bayraktar TB2 for persistent ISR and precision strike missions. These acquisitions provide a qualitative leap in capability but also present the challenge of sustaining a diverse and technologically advanced inventory. The NAF has also focused on developing indigenous capacity through the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and the Air Force Research and Development Centre (AFRDC).

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 Other 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
OtherOther DA62 ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡น 2015 4
0
0
OtherOther King Air 350 ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ 1964 2
0
0
OtherOther 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.