The Nigerian Air Force is poised for a significant expansion of its combat and unmanned aviation capabilities, with a new wave of strategic acquisitions expected to further strengthen the country’s ability to conduct intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision-strike operations.
According to recent reports and an infographic released by the Nigerian Air Force on October 25, 2026, the service has listed 12 TUSAŞ AKSUNGUR armed unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), two Chinese CH-4D armed drones and six additional T129 ATAK attack helicopters among its expected aircraft. The reported expansion would represent another major step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to modernise its air-power capabilities.
The most notable aspect of the plan is the proposed increase in Nigeria’s T129 ATAK fleet. The Nigerian Air Force previously acquired six T129 ATAK attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ), with the first two delivered in November 2023. The remaining aircraft followed as part of the initial acquisition programme. Six additional helicopters would therefore increase the fleet to 12 T129 ATAKs, effectively doubling the number of the Turkish-built attack helicopters available to the service.
The T129 ATAK is designed for armed reconnaissance, close air support and attack missions. Its combination of electro-optical targeting systems, cannon, rockets and guided weapons makes it particularly suited to the type of counter-insurgency operations routinely conducted by Nigerian forces.
The planned acquisition of the AKSUNGUR drones could be equally significant. Developed by TUSAŞ, the twin-engine AKSUNGUR is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as armed missions. Its relatively high payload capacity and long endurance make it suitable for persistent monitoring and strike missions over large areas.
The AKSUNGURs would also add a new capability to Nigeria’s increasingly diverse unmanned-aircraft inventory. The Nigerian military already operates Chinese-made armed UAVs, including the CH-4 series and Wing Loong II, alongside other unmanned systems. The addition of another long-endurance armed platform would give commanders more options for persistent aerial surveillance and precision engagement.
Meanwhile, the reported acquisition of two CH-4D armed UAVs from China would further reinforce Nigeria’s existing relationship with Chinese unmanned-aircraft technology. Nigeria has operated the CH-4 for several years, making the additional aircraft a continuation and possible expansion of an already established operational capability.
Taken together, the planned acquisitions point towards a more layered Nigerian air-power structure, combining manned attack helicopters with long-endurance armed drones from both Turkey and China. Such a combination could provide greater flexibility in responding to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province threats in the North-East, as well as banditry and other security challenges in the North-West.
The expansion also highlights Nigeria’s increasingly diversified approach to defence procurement, with the country sourcing advanced aviation platforms from several international partners while strengthening its existing fleet.
However, it is important to distinguish between aircraft listed as expected acquisitions and aircraft already delivered. Current reporting indicates that the Nigerian Air Force has identified the 12 AKSUNGURs, two CH-4Ds and six additional T129s as part of its planned expansion, but publicly available information does not yet provide a confirmed contract value or detailed delivery timetable for all of these platforms.
If the planned acquisitions are completed, Nigeria would possess one of the most substantial and technologically diverse armed-drone fleets in Africa, while its T129 ATAK fleet would double in size. More importantly, the expansion could significantly enhance the Nigerian Air Force’s ability to maintain persistent aerial surveillance, identify hostile targets and support ground forces during counter-terrorism and internal security operations.
0 Comments