The US State Department has approved the potential $346 million sale of ammunition and precision-guided weapons to Nigeria.
Defense contractors RTX, Lockheed Martin, and BAE Systems will supply munitions, precision bombs, and rockets intended to support Abuja’s defense against terrorist organizations and curb illicit trafficking within the African country and the Gulf of Guinea.
The sub-Saharan country has requested to purchase MK-82 general-purpose 500-pound (227-kilogram) bombs and Paveway II guided bombs, which are deployable from the Nigerian Air Force’s A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft.
In particular, the possible foreign military sale involves 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500-pound bombs, as well as 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II all-up-rounds, each consisting of a WGU-59/B guidance section, high-explosive warhead, and MK66-4 rocket motor.
The request also includes 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups (AFGs) for 500-pound Paveway II GBU-12, 515 MXU-1006 AFGs for 250-pound (113-kilogram) Paveway II GBU-58, 1,517 MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58, and 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes.
Other defense equipment will accompany the package, such as FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes, bomb components, impulse cartridges, as well as high-explosive and practice rockets.
Related logistical and program support is also part of the proposed sale.
