US approves potential sales of precision bombs, rockets, others to Nigeria

The United States Department of State has approved a possible sale of munitions, precision bombs, and precision rockets to Nigeria at an estimated cost of $346 million. 

According to a Pentagon statement on Wednesday, the deal, involving contractors Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defense, and BAE Systems, among others, was certified to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency after the State Department’s approval.

U.S. government disclosed that the Nigerian request includes 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500 lb bombs; 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups for 500 lb Paveway II GBU-12; 515 MXU-1006 Air Foil Groups for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58; 1,517 computer control groups for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58; 1,002 joint programmable fuzes; and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II all-up rounds, comprising guidance sections, high-explosive warheads, and rocket motors.

The package also includes non-major defence equipment such as additional fuzes, bomb components, impulse cartridges, practice rockets, integration support, test equipment, technical and engineering services, as well as other logistical and programme support elements.

The State Department said the proposed sale would advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening Nigeria’s ability to counter current and future threats, particularly in operations against terrorist organisations and efforts to curb illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

It added that Nigeria would have no difficulty integrating the munitions into its armed forces and that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region.

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The statement partly reads, “The Government of Nigeria has requested to buy one thousand two (1,002) MK-82 general purpose 500 lb bombs; one thousand two (1,002) MXU-650 Air Foil Groups (AFGs) for 500 lb Paveway II GBU-12; five hundred fifteen (515) MXU-1006 AFGs for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58; one thousand five hundred seventeen (1,517) MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control group (CCG) for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58; one thousand two (1,002) FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes; and five thousand (5,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) all-up-rounds (AURs) (consisting of one each WGU-59/B guidance section (GS); high-explosive warhead; and MK66-4 rocket motor). The following non-MDE items will also be included: FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes; bomb components, impulse cartridges, and high-explosive and practice rockets; integration support and test equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics personnel services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $346 million.

“This 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 proposed sale will improve Nigeria’s capability to meet current and future threats through operations against terrorist organizations and to counter illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria will have no difficulty absorbing these munitions into its armed forces.

“The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

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