The Chief of the Air Staff, Sunday Kelvin Aneke, led a high-level delegation of the Nigerian Air Force on an official visit to Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Spain from March 14 to 18, 2026.
The visit was aimed at enhancing the Air Force’s tactical and medium airlift capabilities. Central to the discussions was the possible acquisition of the CASA C-295 aircraft, a versatile platform expected to boost operational mobility, as well as counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
During the visit, the delegation received detailed briefings at Getafe Air Base on the C-295’s performance in troop transportation, logistics support, medical evacuation, and humanitarian missions. The aircraft’s reliability, adaptability, and cost-effective maintenance were also highlighted.
Further strategic engagements in Madrid focused on the aircraft’s global acceptance and the availability of comprehensive support packages. The delegation was also briefed on the advanced SIRTAP tactical unmanned aerial system, which offers promising prospects for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance integration.
The tour concluded in Seville with an inspection of Airbus production lines, where both the C-295 and A400M aircraft are manufactured. Air Marshal Aneke commended the hospitality and valuable insights gained during the visit, noting that they would support the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing modernisation drive under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at strengthening national security.