Sierra Nevada Corp. has been awarded a US$329 million contract for the delivery of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force, the US Department of Defense announced on November 29, 2018.

A Brazilian Air Force EMB-314/A-29 Super Tucano
(Credit: Embraer)

This contract is to be extended by a further US$15 million to include a Forward Looking Infrared System for six of the aircraft. This piece is projected to be funded soon after contract award, the Pentagon added. While the US DoD has not detailed the envisioned FLIR system, The A-29s supplied to the NAF should be equipped with the AN/AAQ-22 Star SAFIRE II day\night observation and targeting electro-optical on the underside of the fuselage.

In addition to the 12 aircraft, this contract provides for ground training devices, mission planning systems, mission debrief systems, spares, ground support equipment, alternate mission equipment, contiguous U.S. interim contractor support, outside of continental U.S. (OCONUS) contractor logistic support, and five field service representatives for OCONUS support for three years.

The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency on August 3, 2017 announced the Foreign Military Sale of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, along with weapons, spares and training, to Nigeria in a potential contract worth $593 million.

According to the Federal Register, Nigeria also requested Paveway II and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guidance kits and ammunition.