Nepal expands M28 light transport fleet under new US Foreign Military Financing buy
The US-funded M28 contract will take Nepal's fleet to five aircraft. (Photo: PZL Mielec)
PZL-Mielec will supply an additional two M28 twin-turboprop light transport aircraft to Nepal’s air force.
PZL Mielec of Poland, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, has been awarded a $30.4 firm-fixed-price contract for M28 light transport aircraft for delivery to Nepal.
This contract provides for two new commercially produced M28 Block 05 aircraft, associated training, a spares package, medical equipment, six months of field service representative services, and ferry flights to Kathmandu, Nepal. Work is expected to be complete by 30 April 2025. One will be in cargo configuration, while the other will have an aeromedical interior.
The contract involves Foreign Military Financing to Nepal and is the result of a country-directed sole-source acquisition.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB serves as the contracting agency.
Shephard Defence Insight lists Nepal as already having three M28s in service, with this sale taking the fleet to five. Nepal’s air force also operates a single Indonesian-built CN235 turboprop airlifter.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Callen-Lenz pushes ahead with Nyan OWE as it hails operational success]()
Callen-Lenz pushes ahead with Nyan OWE as it hails operational success
The one-way-effector uncrewed aerial vehicle has also been tested by the British Army, following on from its contract award notice in February 2026.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Locally produced loitering munition destined for UAE Navy, says MBDA]()
Eurosatory 2026: Locally produced loitering munition destined for UAE Navy, says MBDA
The contract signed between MBDA and Fly-R will see diamond-shaped loitering munitions developed and prepared in the UAE. How does this move fit into wider market trends in the region?
-
![Eurosatory 2026: MBDA and Thales look to civilian industry for loitering munition scale-up]()
Eurosatory 2026: MBDA and Thales look to civilian industry for loitering munition scale-up
Thales and MBDA have taken steps to ensure the mass production of their respective loitering munition offerings at Eurosatoy, teaming with civilian manufacturers. These moves come amid France’s push towards sovereign drone production and continued market expansion.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: How the deep-strike, loitering munition market skyrocketed to $13.8 billion in three years]()
Eurosatory 2026: How the deep-strike, loitering munition market skyrocketed to $13.8 billion in three years
Ukraine’s rapid development of long-range, deep-strike loitering munitions has helped turn the sector into a market worth an estimated US$13.2 billion. The reasons behind this were outlined during Eurosatory 2026, as other countries embark on the early stages of procuring this capability.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Why security agencies are expanding UAS operations across Europe]()
Eurosatory 2026: Why security agencies are expanding UAS operations across Europe
Uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are an increasingly important tool for Europe’s law enforcement and public security agencies, with the past two years seeing rapid growth in operational deployment, procurement and regulatory acceptance.
