Italy will send an official delegation to the inaugural Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos this month, while Italian aerospace and defence company Leonardo will exhibit and sponsor the event, as military cooperation between both countries advances through aircraft deliveries, training and long-term fleet support.

The participation comes as Nigeria deepens its defence aviation relationship with Italy through the acquisition of Leonardo helicopters and M-346 fighter-attack aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

On September 15, the NAF took delivery in Lagos of three Leonardo AW109 Trekker B helicopters. The aircraft form part of a 10-helicopter acquisition, with the remaining seven expected before the end of 2026, according to the Air Force.

The helicopter programme runs alongside Nigeria’s acquisition of 24 M-346 aircraft from Leonardo. Together, the two programmes account for 34 aircraft being acquired by the NAF from the Italian company, marking a significant expansion of the bilateral aerospace relationship.

The first three M-346 fighter-attack aircraft, designated NAF 01, NAF 02 and NAF 03, completed Factory Acceptance Testing at Leonardo’s facility in Venegono, Italy, between June 29 and July 9, 2026.

The aircraft met the required contractual, technical and airworthiness standards during the process, clearing them for delivery to Nigeria, according to the information provided on the programme.

Beyond aircraft acquisition, the partnership includes training, logistics and arrangements to sustain the fleet over the long term.

During the M-346 acceptance process, Nigerian officials held discussions with Leonardo on pilot and maintenance training, logistics support and long-term fleet sustainment. The programme also includes simulator and ground-based training intended to strengthen the NAF’s technical expertise and operational capacity.

The Air Force has previously stated that Leonardo’s support arrangements provide for maintenance support for the M-346 fleet for at least 25 years. NAF leadership has also proposed establishing a Leonardo maintenance hub in Nigeria to strengthen local technical capacity and support the aircraft within the country.

Leonardo’s relationship with Nigeria predates the current aircraft programmes. Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has described the company as having decades of collaboration with Nigeria’s defence sector. Both countries have also maintained formal military-to-military engagement through bilateral staff talks and other institutional cooperation.

Against this background, Italy’s official delegation and Leonardo’s participation at AFRIDEX are expected to provide an opportunity for further engagement between government officials, military authorities and defence industry stakeholders.

Odiri Umusu, Portfolio Director of AFRIDEX, said Italy’s participation came at a significant point in the defence relationship between both countries.

“Italy’s participation at AFRIDEX comes at a particularly relevant point in the defence relationship between Italy and Nigeria. Nigeria is progressing through delivery, training and sustainment milestones across major Leonardo aircraft programmes, while the presence of an official delegation from Italy creates an important opportunity for wider government-to-government and industry engagement,” Umusu said.

He said the exhibition was established to promote structured defence and security cooperation, focusing on capability requirements, training, long-term readiness, technical capacity, industrial support and government-industry dialogue.

“We are pleased to welcome the official delegation from Italy and Leonardo to Lagos and to provide a platform for engagement with defence and security stakeholders from Nigeria, across Africa and international partner markets,” he added.

AFRIDEX will hold from October 26 to 29, 2026, at Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The exhibition is expected to bring together senior military leaders, government representatives, capability planners and defence and security organisations across the land, maritime, air, cyber and space domains.

Hosted by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) under the patronage of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the exhibition is designed to promote cooperation among governments, armed forces and industry, with emphasis on capability development, protection, resilience, operational readiness and long-term industrial capacity.

Italy’s participation and Leonardo’s sponsorship therefore come as Nigeria advances aircraft procurement, training and long-term fleet-support arrangements with the Italian company. The exhibition will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss these programmes alongside broader defence and security cooperation across Africa.