Super Tucano A-29
Nigeria says U.S. agrees delayed $593 million fighter
plane sale
Reuters Staff
DECEMBER 28, 2017 / 12:45 AM
ABUJA (Reuters) - The United States has formally agreed
to sell 12 Super Tucano A-29 planes and weapons to Nigeria, the West African
country’s air force said, confirming the resurrection of a deal frozen by the
Obama administration over rights concerns.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama delayed the sale in
one of his last decisions in office after the Nigerian Air Force bombed a
refugee camp in January.
But his successor Donald Trump decided to press on with
the transaction to support Nigeria’s efforts to fight Boko Haram militants and
to boost U.S. defense jobs, sources told Reuters in April.
The U.S. ambassador to Nigeria presented letters of offer
and acceptance to Nigeria’s air force earlier on Wednesday, the air force said
in a statement.
It said the U.S. State Department had approved the sale
and final agreements would be signed and necessary payments made before Feb.
20.
There was no immediate statement from the U.S. embassy or
from authorities in Washington.
U.S. government and Nigerian Air Force officials would
meet in early January to discuss the early delivery of the aircraft once payment
had been made, the Nigerian air force said.
The sale of the 12 aircraft, with weapons and services,
is worth $593 million, and includes thousands of bombs and rockets.
The propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance,
surveillance and attack capabilities, is made by Brazil’s Embraer. A second
production line is in Florida, in a partnership between Embraer and privately
held Sierra Nevada Corp of Sparks, Nevada.
The Super Tucano costs more than $10 million each and the
price can go much higher depending on the configuration. It is powered by a
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT 6 engine.
Reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Alison Williams and
Andrew Heavens
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