By Olamilekan Tosin
The United States has approved a potential $346 million sale of precision bombs, rockets, and missiles to Nigeria. This deal aims to enhance Nigeria’s military capabilities in combating terrorism and illicit trafficking in the country and the Gulf of Guinea.
The sale includes precision bombs and rockets, such as 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500 lb bombs, 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups for 500 lb Paveway II GBU-12, and 515 MXU-1006 AFGs for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58. Additionally, the package includes 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II all-up-rounds, consisting of WGU-59/B guidance sections, high-explosive warheads, and MK66-4 rocket motors.
Other equipment included in the sale are FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes, bomb components, impulse cartridges, high-explosive and practice rockets, integration support, and test equipment. The contractors involved in this deal are Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defence, and BAE Systems.
The proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. The sale will also enhance Nigeria’s capability to meet current and future threats through operations against terrorist organizations and to counter illicit trafficking.
This deal is part of a larger effort to strengthen Nigeria’s military capabilities, following a previous $997 million sale of military equipment in 2022, which included 12 attack helicopters and 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance sections. The US aims to bolster Nigeria’s security forces to effectively combat terrorism and other security challenges in the region.
