The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has received the first batch of six A-29 Super Tucano Fighter Aircraft from the United States.
The delivery was made known by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
Gabkwet said the 6 aircraft arrived in Kano State at about 12.34pm.
The officials that received the aircraft were the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Faruk Yahaya; and Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Oladayo Amao.
This is in fulfillment of an earlier statement by NAF that the first batch of the Super Tucano aircraft would arrive Nigeria from the United States before the end of July.
The aircraft are expected to aid the fight against insecurity in the North-east and other parts of the country.
Apart from the Tucano fighter jets from the U.S, Nigeria is also expecting other fighter jets from Pakistan.
Recall that the former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, had told the Senate Committee on Air Force last November that ,“We are expecting 3 J-17 fighters from Pakistan, 12 super Tucano from the United States, one M-171… Out of the 12 A – 29 Super Tucanos from the US, six are almost here as those to handle them have been sent on training for that purpose.
“A total of 200 personnel are receiving training in nine different countries of the world on handling combat aircraft. They will soon join their colleagues in the fight against insecurity and in particular, insurgency in the North East.”
However, Gabkwet said an induction ceremony for the newly acquired aircraft would be done in August.
