The United States has given the green light to a foreign military sale valued at up to $346 million, supplying Nigeria with a range of ammunition, precision-guided bombs, and rockets to enhance its air strike capabilities. Announced by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday, this transaction involves Nigeria’s request for 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500-pound bombs, 1,002 MXU-650 air foil groups to improve bomb aerodynamics and accuracy, and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II kits, complete with high-explosive warheads and MK66-4 rocket motors. The package extends to non-major defence equipment such as FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes for controlled detonation, various bomb assemblies, impulse cartridges to initiate launches, high-explosive and training rockets for operational readiness, along with integration tools, testing apparatus, and ongoing technical, engineering, and logistical assistance from US government and contractor personnel.
Principal contractors for this deal include Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defence, and BAE Systems. Lockheed Martin, a major player in aerospace and defence, produces a wide array of advanced systems, from autonomous platforms and fighter jets like the F-35 Lightning II to transport aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, missile technologies including the Patriot system, and various space and defence solutions that support global security needs. RTX, ranking as the world’s second-largest military firm by revenue, focuses on aircraft propulsion, guided munitions, air defence setups, radar arrays, and cybersecurity offerings, with its missiles and defence division excelling in precision armaments, radar integration, and command infrastructures. BAE Systems, a British multinational based in London and Europe’s leading defence supplier, designs and manufactures military planes, missiles, warships, armoured transports, and electronic defence gear, contributing to multinational projects that span land, sea, and air domains.
According to the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, this arrangement aligns with American foreign policy aims and national security interests by fortifying a key ally in sub-Saharan Africa. It is expected to bolster Nigeria’s ability to confront ongoing and emerging dangers, particularly through campaigns against terrorist groups and efforts to curb illegal trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, where piracy and smuggling disrupt maritime routes and economic stability. The agency assured that the transfer would not disrupt the region’s military equilibrium, as Nigeria possesses the expertise to absorb these munitions seamlessly into its forces. It also clarified that the quoted figure represents the maximum possible outlay based on the broadest scope; the actual cost will likely fall below this threshold once final specifications, funding approvals, and contracts are settled.
Although, the platforms the munitions are being acquired for were not specified, they will likely be for the Nigerian Air Force’s A-29 Super Tucano light combat/trainer aircraft acquired via US company Sierra Nevada Corporation. They have been heavily used to combat Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, and other security threats in Nigeria.
These munitions are destined primarily for use with the Nigerian Air Force’s fleet of 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, a turboprop platform built by Embraer in collaboration with Sierra Nevada Corporation, tailored for counter-insurgency and close air support roles in low-threat environments. Nigeria ordered these aircraft in 2018 as part of a broader push to modernise its aerial assets against groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province, which have waged prolonged insurgencies in the northeast, employing guerrilla tactics that demand precise, low-cost strikes to minimise collateral damage in populated areas.
The first batch of six arrived in July 2021 after departing from Moody Air Force Base in the United States, with the full complement inducted into service by August that year during a ceremony that underscored their role in combating violent extremists. To accommodate the fleet, the United States funded a $38 million infrastructure project at Kainji Air Base, completed in 2023, which included new hangars, maintenance facilities, and munitions storage to ensure sustained operations. By August 2024, the Super Tucanos had logged over 10,000 flight hours, demonstrating their reliability in real-world missions where they deliver targeted firepower against militant hideouts, convoys, and training camps, often in coordination with ground troops to disrupt supply lines and leadership structures. Their armament compatibility with the approved items, such as the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System—a laser-guided rocket that transforms unguided munitions into smart weapons—allows for surgical strikes that reduce risks to civilians while maximising effectiveness against dispersed threats in Nigeria’s challenging terrain of savannas, forests, and urban fringes.
The package will also arm the incoming AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, with 12 units approved for sale in April 2022 under a $997 million deal that encompassed 28 T-700 GE 401C engines, 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance sections, night vision imaging systems, and related training and spares. Built by Bell Textron, the Viper represents a modern evolution of the Cobra lineage, featuring advanced avionics, twin engines for enhanced survivability, and a suite of sensors that enable all-weather, day-night operations against armoured targets, infantry, and maritime threats.
Progress on the acquisition has accelerated in recent years; by January 2024, production was advancing, and in June 2024, Bell secured a $455 million contract to deliver the helicopters. High-level engagements in June 2025 between the Nigerian Air Force Chief of Air Staff and US counterparts focused on expediting deliveries, with collaborative efforts between the US Navy’s PMA-276 programme office and Nigerian officials underscoring the helicopters’ anticipated role in boosting combat prowess against insurgents and pirates.
As of August 2025, the Vipers are nearing delivery, poised to integrate with Nigeria’s rotary-wing fleet for missions that demand heavy firepower, such as escorting ground convoys through hostile territories or conducting interdictions in the Gulf of Guinea, where armed groups target oil platforms and shipping lanes. The inclusion of precision rockets and bombs in the current sale ensures these helicopters can deploy guided munitions like the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, which offers pinpoint accuracy from standoff ranges, minimising exposure to anti-aircraft fire while neutralising threats that have plagued Nigeria’s security forces for over a decade.
This latest approval follows the 2022 authorisation of nearly $1 billion in military hardware, which centred on the AH-1Z helicopters, thousands of precision guidance kits, and night vision systems to augment Nigeria’s counter-terrorism arsenal. Together, these acquisitions reflect Washington’s commitment to supporting Abuja in its fight against entrenched militants and maritime criminals, enabling more effective patrols and strikes that protect vital economic interests like oil exports while fostering stability in a volatile sub-region.
