BREAKING: First batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft depart the US for Nigeria
- The A-29 Super Tucano, a Brazilian turboprop light attack aircraft designed and built by Embraer is on its way to Nigeria
- Nigeria has one of the largest fighter jets in Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft
- The country is, however, investing in the Tucano to support flight and combat training, close air support operations, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
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FCT, Abuja - The first batch of 6 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft have departed the United States of America on Wednesday, July 14 en route to Nigeria.
A statement sent to Legit.ng by the spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet on Thursday, July 15 noted that the 6 aircraft will be leapfrogged through 5 countries.
Source: Facebook
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Super Tucano to arrive by the end of July 2021
He said the countries are Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Algeria before arriving at their final destination in Nigeria towards the end of July 2021.
He also said an official induction ceremony of the aircraft into the inventory of the NAF is already being planned at a later date in August 2021 to be announced in due course.
Presidential reaction on the aircraft impending arrival
On his official Facebook page, presidential media aide, Tolu Ogunlesi reacted to the news from the NAF while sharing the statement.
He wrote:
“This is a ‘super’ piece of news I’ve been looking forward to! We go wash am!”
Last week, the NAF dismissed reports claiming that the first batch of A-29 Super Tucano attack jets ordered by Nigeria from the US has arrived in the country.
Gabkwet, in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Thursday, July 8, said any report claiming the arrival of the jets should be disregarded.
He stated that jets have not yet arrived and promised to update the press when the planes are delivered to the country.
Recall that the National Assembly Joint Committee on Defence recently visited the manufacturers of the A-29 Tucano aircraft in the United States of America.
Colonel Authur Ford of the United States Air Force Fighters and Advance Aircraft Directorate made this known to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Defence and Air Force.
He said members inspected and toured the Embraer Defence Security Incorporated to assess the status and progress of work on the jets amid the rising security challenges in Nigeria.
Source: Legit.ng
