Chargé d’Affaires, Kathleen FitzGibbon joined the Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Isiaka Amao and his leadership team, to inspect A-29 “Super Tucano” Light Attack aircraft as they arrived at their new home.
Other members of the team include 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
“These aircraft represent an historic level of cooperation achieved between the U.S. and Nigerian militaries, according to the Charge’ de Affairs.
“The Super Tucano platform for Nigeria is the United States’ largest Foreign Military Sales program in Sub-Saharan Africa, valued at almost $500 million. This 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.
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.
Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard had proudly welcomed the pilots and aircraft to Massachusetts on the first leg of their trans-Atlantic flight.
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 next six aircraft are scheduled for delivery later this year.
Chargé d’Affaires FitzGibbon noted, “Beyond the new hardware that you see on this runway, this program has brought our two militaries closer in formal 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.”
