Italy to spotlight defense ties with Nigeria at AFRIDEX 2026

Italy’s official delegation and Leonardo will take part in AFRIDEX in Lagos from Oct. 26-29, 2026, as Nigeria advances aircraft deliveries, training and long-term support tied to major Leonardo programs. The exhibition will highlight a defense relationship that now includes helicopter deliveries, M-346 fighter-attack aircraft and expanded sustainment planning.

Why it matters: - Italy’s presence at AFRIDEX 2026 signals deeper defense and industrial ties with Nigeria at a time when the Nigerian Air Force is taking delivery of Italian-made aircraft and building long-term support capacity. - The event gives Nigeria, Italy and Leonardo a formal venue to advance aircraft delivery, training, maintenance and fleet sustainment discussions. - The timing matters because aircraft acquisition alone is no longer the story; long-term readiness and in-country support are now central to the relationship.

What happened: - An official delegation from Italy and Leonardo will participate in AFRIDEX 2026 in Lagos, with Leonardo also set to exhibit and sponsor. - AFRIDEX runs Oct. 26-29, 2026, at Eko Atlantic in Lagos. - The Nigerian Air Force received three Leonardo AW-109 Trekker B helicopters in Lagos on Sept. 15. - Those helicopters are part of a 10-aircraft order, with seven more expected before the end of 2026, according to the Nigerian Air Force. - Nigeria is also buying 24 M-346 aircraft from Leonardo. - Together, the two programs total 34 Leonardo aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force.

The details: - The first three M-346 fighter-attack aircraft, NAF 01, NAF 02 and NAF 03, completed Factory Acceptance Testing at Leonardo’s Venegono facility in Italy between June 29 and July 9, 2026. - The aircraft met contractual, technical and airworthiness requirements and cleared for delivery to Nigeria. - Nigerian officials discussed pilot and maintenance training, logistics support, long-term fleet sustainment, simulator training and ground-based training during the M-346 acceptance process. - The Nigerian Air Force has said Leonardo’s support for the M-346 fleet will run for at least 25 years. - NAF leadership has also proposed a Leonardo maintenance hub in Nigeria to support long-term sustainment. - Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described Leonardo as having decades of collaboration in Nigeria’s defense sector. - Italy and Nigeria also maintain formal military-to-military engagement through bilateral staff talks and other institutional cooperation. - AFRIDEX is hosted by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and held under the patronage of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. - The exhibition will bring together senior military leaders, government representatives, capability planners and defense and security organizations across land, maritime, air, cyber and space domains.

Between the lines: - The delegation’s appearance at AFRIDEX is not just ceremonial. It reflects a shift from procurement to lifecycle support, where training, logistics and sustainment can matter as much as new hardware. - Nigeria’s multiple Leonardo programs create a long runway for continued engagement between Italian industry and Nigerian defense institutions. - AFRIDEX gives both sides a way to package existing contracts into broader government-to-government and industry cooperation. - Odiri Umusu, portfolio director for AFRIDEX, said the exhibition was built to support capability development, technical capacity, industrial support and credible government-industry dialogue.

What’s next: - The Nigerian Air Force expects the remaining seven AW-109 Trekker B helicopters before the end of 2026. - More M-346 aircraft are expected to move through the delivery process as Nigeria advances the program. - AFRIDEX will serve as a meeting point for further talks on training, maintenance, readiness and industrial support. - Nigeria and Italy are likely to keep building on defense cooperation as aircraft delivery and sustainment milestones continue.

The bottom line: - Italy’s AFRIDEX participation lands at a moment when Nigeria’s defense relationship with Leonardo is expanding from aircraft purchases into long-term operational support and industrial partnership.