Nigeria has officially confirmed the purchase of 24 M-346FA Light Strike Fighters

Nigeria has officially confirmed the purchase of 24 M-346FA Light Strike Fighters. Nigeria's interest in the M-346FA has been known for some time.

Nigeria's interest in the Leonardo M-346FA (Fighter Attack) is no secret: although it has never been officially confirmed, reports that the Sub-Saharan African country will be the new customer of the "light combat" version of the M-346 advanced jet trainer are several It's been around for years.

Finally, the official confirmation from the Nigerian Presidency that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will receive 24 M-346FA aircraft to equip the two full squadrons.

The aircraft is equipped with the multi-mode Grifo-M-346 radar developed by Leonardo and optimized for the M-346FA. The M-346FA is also equipped with a passive defense system (DASS – Defensive Aids Sub-System), integrated communication system and tactical data link (TDL). to M-346FA; Different types of weapons and external payloads can be integrated, including air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions (such as infrared, radar and/or laser/GPS guided munitions), weapon pods and Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) and integrated reconnaissance and targeting pods.

Among the weapons integrated or tested for integration; There are IRIS-T and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, 12.7 mm cannon pod, GBU-12 and GBU-49 laser-guided bombs, JDAMs, Brimstone and Marte ER, Miniature Bombs and RecceLite Reconnaissance Pod.