Buhari Orders 24 New Fighter Jets From Italy, For 1.2 Billion Euros

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Buhari Orders 24 New Fighter Jets From Italy, For 1.2 Billion Euros

The federal government has ordered the procurement of 24 M-346 Alenia Aermacchi Master fighter jets from Italian aircraft maker, Leonardo.

The attack aircraft are worth an estimated €1.2 billion and would see the Italian jets replacing the aging Dassault Alpha Jet A/E in use by the Nigerian Air Force.

Leonardo would provide aircraft, training, support, and munitions for Nigeria as part of a sole-source.

As a partnership, the Italian Air Force would train the Nigerian Air Force pilots at the International Flight Training School of Galatina (Lecce) and Decimomannu airbase (Sardinia) in Italy.

The United States government had in April approved the sale of advanced attack Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters worth nearly $1 billion.

The State Department had announced the approval of the $997 million sale of 24 Bell AH-1Z Viper helicopters and related equipment to Nigeria.

The related equipment included guidance, night vision and targeting systems as well as engines and training support, the department had said in a notice to Congress.

Meanwhile, military authorities said at the weekend that no Nigerian territory is under the control of terror group, Boko Haram or any other group for that matter.

It said military firepower was hitting the insurgents hard and forced the terrorists to seek refuge in the forests and other ungoverned spaces including the Lake Chad area.