Nigerian Air Force Lists 12 AKSUNGUR Drones and Six T129 ATAK Helicopters as Expected Aircraft
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has listed 12 AKSUNGUR drones and six T129 ATAK attack helicopters, both built by Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ), among its “additional expected aircraft”. The list appeared in an infographic the service published on its official X account on Sunday, 25 October 2026, to mark the first year in office of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke (Nigerian Air Force on X). The NAF did not publish contract values, signing dates or delivery schedules.
- The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) listed 12 AKSUNGUR unmanned combat aerial vehicles and six T-129 ATAK helicopters, both made by Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ), under “additional expected aircraft” on 25 October 2026
- The same list includes 12 AH-1Z, 24 M-346, 7 AW109 Trekker B, 3 C-295, 1 H-225 and 2 Chinese CH-4D drones
- The NAF gave no contract values, signing dates or delivery schedules, and did not say whether contracts have been signed
- Nigeria already ordered six T129s; the NAF did not say whether the six now listed are additional
- TUSAŞ quotes up to 50 hours’ endurance and a 750+ kg payload for AKSUNGUR
What the Nigerian Air Force published
Under the heading “Additional expected aircraft”, the infographic lists eight types: one H-225 multi-role helicopter, three CASA C-295 medium airlifters, seven AW109 Trekker Type B helicopters, 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, 24 M-346 fighter/ground-attack aircraft, 12 AKSUNGUR unmanned combat aerial vehicles, six T-129 ATAK helicopters and two CH-4D unmanned aerial vehicles (NAF).
The written statement is less specific. It says five helicopters were delivered in September 2026, three AW-109 Trekker Type B and two H125, and that “plans continue for the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, other aircraft and unmanned aerial systems”. It does not name suppliers for the drones. “Expected” is the NAF’s own word; the service does not say which of the listed aircraft are under signed contract. DefenceMENA, which first reported the graphic, said neither TUSAŞ nor Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) had commented (DefenceMENA).
The T129 question
Nigeria is already a T129 customer. TUSAŞ announced an order for six helicopters in 2022, and the NAF inducted the first two at Makurdi on 6 February 2024, according to Turkish outlet N24 (N24). DefenceMENA reports that the NAF confirmed four in service in May 2025 and that it has found no dated confirmation that the last two have arrived (DefenceMENA). The new graphic does not say whether the six T129s it lists are new airframes on top of the first order or the outstanding part of it. Some reports describe them as “six additional” helicopters; the NAF has not said that.
What is AKSUNGUR?
AKSUNGUR is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone designed by TUSAŞ for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions. According to the manufacturer, it has a 24 m wingspan, a maximum take-off weight of 3,300 kg, a payload capacity of more than 750 kg, endurance of up to 50 hours and a service ceiling of 40,000 ft. It is powered by two turbocharged diesel engines and can carry electro-optical/infrared cameras, synthetic aperture radar and signals-intelligence payloads, as well as precision-guided bombs, laser-guided rockets and anti-tank missiles. TUSAŞ says AKSUNGUR first flew with the national TEI-PD170 engine in November 2023 (TUSAŞ). These are manufacturer figures; the NAF has not said which payloads or weapons its aircraft would carry or where they would be based.
Business Insider Africa reported that an order would put Nigeria alongside Niger and Kyrgyzstan as AKSUNGUR users (Business Insider Africa). Our guide to the drones Türkiye has sets AKSUNGUR alongside the Bayraktar TB2, AKINCI and ANKA family.
Previous developments
Several items on the list are known programmes. Production of Nigeria’s 12 AH-1Z Vipers is under way in the United States (see our report on the AH-1Z order), and Nigeria’s M-346 purchase from Leonardo has been covered in our M-346FA report. The seven AW109 Trekkers listed follow the three delivered in September. Nigeria already operates Chinese CH-4B and Wing Loong II drones and Turkish Bayraktar TB2s, according to DefenceMENA; the NAF gave no detail on the “CH-4D” designation.
Industry context
If the AKSUNGUR order goes ahead, it would give the NAF a larger and longer-endurance Turkish drone than the TB2, and would add to a fleet in which Turkish and Chinese unmanned systems already work side by side. For TUSAŞ, a 12-aircraft order would be a significant export for AKSUNGUR, but until a contract is announced by Nigeria, TUSAŞ or SSB, the figure should be read as a stated requirement rather than a sale. Our overview of Türkiye’s helicopters covers the T129 programme in more detail.
Sources: Nigerian Air Force post and infographic on X (25 October 2026); TUSAŞ AKSUNGUR product page; DefenceMENA (25 October 2026); N24 (25 October 2026); Business Insider Africa. This article will be updated if the NAF, TUSAŞ or SSB release contract details.
