The Brazilian Government has given approval for the sales of three of its serviceable pre-owned Super Tucano A-29 attack aircraft to Nigeria to strengthen the latter’s quest to increase her military assets holding.
This was disclosed by Eneias de Souza Freitas, Contract Negotiator for the country’s Embraer Defence and Security Limited, during a visit to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters Abuja.
“The Brazilian Ministry of Defence has informed them that approval for the sale of 3 Super Tucano A-29 aircraft to Nigeria has been given,” adding that Brazilian government has authorized its Air Force to transfer the aircraft to Embraer Defence and Security, for onward delivering to the NAF”, Freitas said.
He added that the legal requirement and procedures were being finalized by the Brazilian Air Force and promised to facilitate the legal process.
“This is of concern to us, we will for sure take your message back to the people with the legal procedures to quicken the process”, Freitas said.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said the idea by the NAF to acquire Super Tucano A-29 aircraft was mooted in 2015 and appropriated in the 2016 Budget.
He urged the company to facilitate the procurement process to enable the NAF take delivery of the aircraft within reasonable time.
Abubakar said that a team of NAF officers would visit Brazil to further inspect the aircraft adding that Nigeria also intends to purchase new Super Tucano A-29 aircraft from the United States.
The acquisition of the aircraft by NAF is expected to boost its operational capabilities in tackling insurgence and militancy in the country.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, the A-29 Attack Aircraft would also be deployed for Surveillance, Reconnaissance and counter-insurgency missions.
The aircraft could also carry a wide array of armaments, including precision guided monitors, advance avionic, communications and sensors and can also operate in remote and un-paved airfield while the maximum speed of the aircraft is approximately 590 kilometers per hour.
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