Nigeria has set a trade record in the United States as its Super Tucano platform is valued at almost $500 million.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Super Tucano platform for Nigeria is the U.S largest Foreign Military Sales program in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The program follows the Department of Defense’s “Total Package Approach” model and includes spare parts for several years of operation, contract logistics support, munitions, and a multi-year construction project to improve Kainji’s infrastructure.
Through this program, the U.S. Air Force’s 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, trained Nigerian pilots and maintenance crews to U.S. standards.
Training also emphasizes the Law of Armed Conflict and Civilian Casualty Mitigation, which are fundamental principles of the Nigerian military’s professional education and training.
Gatekeepers News reports that with the A-29 Super Tucano purchase, the Nigerian Air Force also has become a founding member of the U.S. Air Force’s ‘Combined Light Attack Experiment’ which is developing Light Attack global best-practice tactics and doctrine for the 21st century.
The first batch of 6 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft arrived in Nigeria last week, while six more A-29 Super Tucano aircraft would arrive in September. Also, two CH-3 and four CH-4 UCAVs will arrive in Nigeria before the end of 2021.
The Super Tucano is a dual-pilot turboprop aircraft built as a workhorse combat air platform, equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and for precision air-to-ground strike missions.
The 6 aircraft represent a historic level of cooperation achieved between the U.S. and Nigerian militaries.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard proudly welcomed the pilots and aircraft to Massachusetts on the first leg of their trans-Atlantic flight.
US chargé d’affaires in Nigeria, Kathleen FitzGibbon, joined Air Marshal Oladayo Isiaka Amao, the Nigerian chief of air staff, and his leadership team, including Air Vice Marshal Jackson Andrew Yusuf, air officer commanding of Air Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Pam Chollom, chief of logistics, and Air Vice Marshal Precious Amadi, base commander, Nigerian Air Force Base, Kainji, to inspect the newly arrived first six American Sierra Nevada Corporation/Embraer Defense and Security A-29 “Super Tucano” light attack aircraft as they arrived at their new home.
Chargé d’Affaires FitzGibbon noted, “Beyond the new hardware that you see on this runway, this program has brought our two militaries closer informal training, professional development, air base construction, logistics planning, and negotiations. We are proud to partner with Nigeria in its ‘whole of government’ approach to end violent extremism and ensure a more stable, prosperous country for all Nigerians.”
