U.S. Approves Major Arms Sale to Nigeria
Overview of the Transaction
The U.S. government has greenlighted Nigeria’s request for laser-guided munitions valued at approximately $346 million, as announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on August 13. This significant arms acquisition aims to enhance the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) operational capabilities.
Details of the Munitions Package
The approved package encompasses:
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5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II): These are laser-guided missiles designed to improve strike accuracy.
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1,002 GBU-12 Laser-Guided Bombs: Each bomb is equipped with a 500 lb Mk 82 general-purpose warhead, integrated with Paveway II guidance technology.
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515 Paveway II Kits: These kits are tailored for 250 lb Mk 81 warheads, allowing conversion into GBU-58 bombs.
This current sales package further complements a previous U.S. approval in August 2017, which included:
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12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, bolstering Nigeria’s light attack capabilities.
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100 GBU-12 and 100 GBU-58 laser-guided bombs, alongside 400 APKWS guidance kits to convert 70 mm rockets into precision-guided ordnance.
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Supporting munitions such as 2,000 Mk 81 warheads and 5,000 70 mm rockets, along with seven AN/AAQ-22F (FLIR Systems Brite Star II) electro-optical systems for target designation.
Delivery and Operational Deployment
All 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft were delivered to the NAF in 2021, with allocations as follows:
- Some of these aircraft are stationed at the 407 Air Combat Training Group at NAF Base Kainji.
- Others have been deployed to Maiduguri, primarily to assist in counter-insurgency operations in northeastern Nigeria.
Further Developments
In April 2022, an additional request for 2,000 APKWS missiles was approved, accompanying the order of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, which are still pending delivery.
This steady flow of advanced munitions and aircraft underscores the U.S. commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s defense capabilities in the face of ongoing security challenges, particularly in relation to counter-terrorism efforts.
For those interested in deeper insights and analyses related to the Nigerian Air Force and its defense collaborations, further information is available regarding the commissioning of Super Tucano infrastructure.
