On November 28, the U.S. Department of Defense placed an order with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) for 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft for supply through Foreign Military Sales channels to the Nigerian Air Force. Based at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) is the contracting agency. Although the deal contains an “undefinitized contract action” (UCA) clause, in which the exact terms and costs are yet to be defined, an initial sum of $329 million is authorized, with a not-to-exceed value of $344.7 million.
Nigeria has been eager to acquire Super Tucanos since 2015, but a sale was held up by U.S. concerns over Nigeria’s human rights record and also instances of civilian deaths in refugee camps caused by bombing raids. President Trump signaled an intention to proceed with the sale in April 2017, at which point Nigeria made an official request, despite causing some domestic political controversy due to the sums involved. U.S. Congressional approval was received in August for a deal that is estimated to be worth nearly $600 million by the time all elements such as weapons and new ground infrastructure are included.
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