The NAF aims to buy one new King Air 360 aircraft. (Photo: Textron Aviation)
Budget documents for FY2022 from the Nigerian government, last updated on 7 October, include initial funding of NGN10.86 billion ($26.4 million) to procure two new King Air 360 aircraft, spares and ground support equipment.
The new pair of King Airs, to be delivered at an undisclosed date, will augment a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) transport fleet that was partially depleted with the loss of a King Air 350 in a crash on 21 February.
The FY2022 budget also includes NGN833.23 million in balance payments for procurement of three JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft with targeting pods.
Additionally, the NAF is spending NGN1.03 billion on balance payments for two AW109 Trekker helicopters from Leonardo and NGN2.93 billion in part payment for reactivation of two H215s (formerly AS332 Super Puma BIs) from Airbus.
The NAF budget request for FY2022 totals NGN179.78 billion.
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The likely scrapping of Boeing’s Apache helicopter comes after a huge budget cut approved by the South Korean National Assembly. The helicopter procurement had already been reconsidered by the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier in the year.
The number of aircraft was stated by UK Defence Secretary John Healey during a Defence Committee hearing. It follows on from the UK’s decision to purchase F-35A aircraft to boost its nuclear deterrence, although hurdles and questions about the order still remain.
The use of air power by both sides in the ongoing conflict has been extensively focused on, influencing policy and procurement around the world. But are the lessons from the front line universally applicable, or should other nations be planning for very different scenarios?
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