The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has successful completed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for the first batch of three M-346 Fighter Attack (FA) aircraft at the Leonardo Aircraft Division facility in Venegono, Italy. 

This was contained in a statement on Monday in Abuja, by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

According to reports, the exercise was conducted between June 29 and July 9, by a joint delegation comprising representatives of the NAF and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

The exercise marked the successful conclusion of all contractual acceptance requirements ahead of the aircraft’s delivery to Nigeria.

Ejodame said the milestone aligned with the Chief of the Air Staff’s command philosophy of building a highly motivated, professional and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower effects in synergy with surface forces.

“The successful completion of the acceptance process confirms that the three aircraft, designated NAF 01, NAF 02 and NAF 03, have met the required contractual, technical and airworthiness standards.

He added that the team also inspected the Full Mission Simulator, Virtual Reality-enabled training systems and other ground-based training facilities that will play a critical role in preparing NAF pilots and technical personnel for the effective operation and maintenance of the M-346 fleet.

Speaking on the successful acceptance, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described the M-346 Fighter Attack aircraft as another strategic step in strengthening the Nigerian Air Force’s operational capability. 

He noted that the aircraft’s unique combination of advanced pilot training and frontline combat capability would significantly enhance the service’s ability to generate combat-ready aircrew while expanding its capacity to conduct precision strike, close air support, air interdiction and other air combat missions in response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.