Italian defence giant Leonardo finally clears three M-346FA fighter jets in $1.3 billion deal with its first African customer

Italy’s Leonardo is finally preparing to deliver the first three M-346 Fighter Attack (FA) aircraft to Nigeria after the Nigerian Air Force completed factory acceptance tests, marking the long-awaited first step in fulfilling Abuja’s €1.2 billion (about US$1.3 billion) order for 24 jets.

The latest milestone was completed by a joint delegation from the Nigerian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence and confirmed that the aircraft met all contractual, technical and airworthiness requirements ahead of delivery.

The three jets represent the first batch of Nigeria’s order for 24 M-346FAs under a €1.2 billion (around US$1.3 billion) contract signed with Leonardo in 2023.

Through the agreement, Nigeria became the first African country to order Leonardo’s M-346FA fighter-attack variant and will become the continent’s first operator of the platform once deliveries are completed.

Originally scheduled for early 2025, delivery of the first aircraft was delayed beyond the initial timeline, according to comments made in October 2024 by then Chief of Air Staff Hassan Abubakar.