In view of the spirited efforts to win the battle against the terrorists group, Boko Haram, the United States, U.S., has placed an order for the procurement of 12 A-29 Super Tucano combat aircraft on behalf of the Nigerian Air Force.
United States Department of Defence made the announcement on Wednesday.
The aircraft which will be built in Jacksonville, Florida, southeastern United States is expected to be ready in May 2024.
The US stated that the contract for the manufacturing of the aircraft was awarded to Sierra Nevada Corporation for an initial sum of $329 million.
Sierra Nevada Corporation is an American aerospace contractor.
The contract is described as “undefinitised contract action (UCA).”
The contract sum, it was said could vary, but would not exceed $344.7 million.
The UCA, according to a defence contracting explainer, involved contracts whose terms, specifications, or price were not agreed upon before work commences.
Six of the aircraft would have a special feature known as Forward Looking Infrared System.
It is described as a technology that senses radiation and then coverts it to video output.
The Nigerian Air Force, it was disclosed, would also be given ground training devices, mission planning systems, mission debrief systems, spares, ground support equipment and alternate mission equipment among other conditions as part of the contract.
The request for the aircraft, according to President Muhammadu Buhari, was to tighten national security and enhance the battle against insurgency.
The Federal Government sent the sum of $469.4 million to the U.S. government in April.
The figure was revealed in the letter sent to the National Assembly.
