The Chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, undertook an official visit to Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Spain from 14 to 18 March 2026 to support ongoing efforts to enhance tactical and medium airlift capability.
Discussions centred on the potential acquisition of the Airbus C-295 aircraft to strengthen operational mobility across counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism missions. At the 35th Wing of the Spanish Air and Space Force at Getafe Air Force Base, the NAF was briefed on the aircraft’s operational deployment, including troop transport, logistics support, medical evacuation, and humanitarian operations, as well as its reliability and maintenance profile.
Engagements in Madrid focused on the aircraft’s performance across varied operational environments and its established global user base. Airbus outlined its support framework, including training, logistics systems, and long-term sustainment packages aligned to operational requirements.
The programme also included a briefing on the SIRTAP high-capability tactical unmanned aerial system, with emphasis on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and integration with manned platforms.
The visit concluded at the Airbus production facility in Seville, where manufacturing processes and quality assurance systems for both the C-295 and A400M platforms were reviewed.
Air Marshal Aneke stated that the visit provided operational and technical insights to support the Nigerian Air Force’s fleet modernisation drive. “These engagements are vital to strengthening our tactical airlift capability and enhancing operational effectiveness in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges,” he said.
Airbus reaffirmed its readiness to support the Nigerian Air Force through training, technology transfer, and sustainment partnerships.
