Nigeria waiting for US to approve Super Tucano sale
Jeremy Binnie, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
07 June 2016
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is hoping to replace its Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets with Embraer EMB 314/A-29 Super Tucano turboprops, NAF spokesman Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said on 6 June.
The NAF released this photo of the Alpha Jet NAF475 in February when it announced that the two aircraft that arrived from the US in 2015 had been remilitarised. It announced in March that the same aircraft had veered into a ditch when landing at Yola. (Nigerian Air Force)
The revelation came in a statement announcing that the apron at Yola Air Base was being expanded in preparation for the arrival of new platforms that have been ordered for the NAF, which include Mil Mi-35M helicopters,
CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder fighters, and PAC Super Mushshak trainers.
"There are also strong indications that the US government may give the nod sooner than expected with regards to the sale of Super Tucano to the NAF to replace the ageing Alpha Jets," the statement said.