The United States of America has sent the first batch of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Nigeria.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, the aircrafts have departed the US for Nigeria.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, stated this in a statement on Thursday.
He said the fighter jets left the US on Wednesday and are expected in Nigeria anytime soon.
The statement titled, ‘First Batch Of A-29 Super Tucano Aircraft Depart The United States Of America For Nigeria’ read in part:
“The six aircraft will be leapfrogged through 5 countries including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Algeria before arriving their final destination in Nigeria towards the end of July 2021.
“An official induction ceremony of the aircraft into the inventory of the Nigerian Air Force is already being planned at a later date in August 2021 to be announced in due course. The Office of the Director of Public Relations and Information remains open to any inquiry regarding the arrival and induction of the aircraft.”
The Federal Government had in February 2018 placed an order for 12 Super Tucano aircraft at a cost of $496 million.