Photo: The A-29 Super Tucano Fighter Jet
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken delivery of the first batch of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft which the country purchased from the U.S.
The country had placed an order for the acquisition of 6 of the fighter jet in the heat of deteriorating insecurity in Nigeria that is driven by Boko Haram terrorism in the North East part of the country, armed banditry and kidnappings particularly in the North West and nationwide.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Gabkwet in the statement, said, “the first batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft have arrived Kano, today 22 July 2021; the aircraft arrived Kano, at about 12.34 p.m.
“On hand to receive the aircraft were the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd).”
He added that other officials that received the aircraft included the Minister of Defence, Major.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Faruk Yahaya; and Chief of Air Staf (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.
Periscope International gathers that the A-29 Super Tucano is a Brazilian made counter-insurgency aircraft and specialized variety of military light attack aircraft designed for counter-insurgency operations, armed reconnaissance, air escort of forces, and ground support against low-intensity engagements.
This fighter jet is usually deployed to deal with irregular groups of insurgents armed with artillery and/or portable rockets carries a wide variety of weapons, including precision-guided munitions and was designed to be a low-cost system operated in low-threat environments.
Just last Sunday the Nigerian Air Force lost one of its Alpha Fighter Jets to some so-called bandits who downed it during an operation in Zamfara State in which the sole pilot narrowly escaped death after ejecting himself from the aircraft and ran on foot into safety.
