In a move to strengthen its airlift capacity, the Nigerian Air Force has stepped up talks with global aircraft manufacturer Airbus during a high-level visit to Spain.
Leading the delegation, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, visited Airbus Defence and Space facilities between March 14 and 18, 2026, as part of efforts to upgrade the force’s tactical and medium airlift capabilities.
A major focus of the visit was discussions around the possible acquisition of the CASA C-295, a platform expected to improve mobility for counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism missions.
At the 35th Wing of the Spanish Air and Space Force in Getafe Air Base, the team received detailed briefings on how the aircraft is deployed in real operations. The sessions covered its use in troop movement, logistics, medical evacuation, and humanitarian support, while also highlighting its durability and relatively low maintenance demands.
Further talks were held at Airbus headquarters in Madrid, where discussions centred on the aircraft’s performance across different terrains and missions worldwide. The company also outlined its support systems, including pilot training, logistics planning, and long-term maintenance packages tailored to clients.
The delegation was also introduced to the SIRTAP Next Generation Tactical Unmanned Aerial System, an advanced drone system designed for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance, capable of operating alongside manned aircraft.
The visit concluded in Seville at Airbus’ production facility, where the team toured assembly lines for both the C-295 and the Airbus A400M Atlas, observing the manufacturing standards and quality-control processes behind the aircraft.
Speaking during the visit, Aneke expressed gratitude for the warm reception and openness shown by both Airbus and the Spanish Air Force, noting that the trip offered valuable insights to guide the Air Force’s modernisation plans.
“These kinds of engagements are key to improving our operational capacity and responding more effectively to Nigeria’s security needs,” he said.
Airbus, in response, praised the Nigerian Air Force’s long-term vision and reaffirmed its willingness to support through partnerships covering training, technology transfer, and maintenance support.
The trip highlights the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing push to adopt modern, mission-ready equipment, in line with the Federal Government’s broader goal of strengthening national security under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
