Chief of Air Staff hosts A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft manufacturers (photos)
- Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar received a delegation from the A-29 Super Tucano manufacturing company
- The Air chief called on the delegates and the US government to speed up the delivery of the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft purchased by the Nigerian Air Force
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Saturday, August 25, hosted the manufacturers of the A-29 Super Tucano, the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) ordered by the Nigerian Air Force.
Abubakar during the meeting called for a speedy recovery of the aircraft to Nigeria to enhance the operations of the troops of the Nigerian Air Force.
The Air chief while receiving a delegation from the aircraft manufacturing company said the machines would facilitate the swift conclusion of the counterinsurgency operations in the northeast.
A statement signed by the Ibikunle Daramola, the director of public relations and information, the visiting delegation also included officials from the Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) of the United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria.
The chief of Air staff hosted delegates from the manufacturers of the Tucano attack aircraft. Photo credit: Facebook: NAF
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The delegation was led by the senior vice president of SNC, Taco Gilbert.
Daramola said that Gilbert during the meeting assured the chief of Air staff of the company's determination to deliver quality aircraft capable of providing the needed impetus for NAF air operations.
Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar called for the speedy delivery of the purchased aircraft. Photo credit: Facebook: NAF
Gilbert also expressed the commitment of the company to provide adequate training for NAF’s air and ground crew to ensure effective and efficient operation of the aircraft.
He said the company looked forward to continued collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force towards building a new air capability to address the security challenges in the country.
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In his response, Abubakar said the he was delighted that the US government has supported Nigeria's fight against terrorism in the northeast region with the signing of the contract to sell the Super Tucano aircraft.
He emphasised that NNAF was majorly concerned with time frame for delivery.
Abubakar however said he is confident that the counterinsurgency operations in the northeast could be executed more effectively, if light attack aircraft like the Super Tucano, with its long range, precision munitions as well as day and night capability, could be made available to the NAF in good time.
He urged the Company to expedite production so that at least 2 of the aircraft would be available to Nigeria within an earlier timeframe, to boost counterinsurgency operations.
The manufacturing company also made a presentation of a model of the Super Tucano aircraft to the CAS.
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the federal government had rejected that conditions listed by the US government for the sale of the 12 Tucano fighter jets.
The minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has said that the federal government will not accept the stringent conditions given by the United States on the planned purchase of 12 Tucano fighter jets.
He said arrangements have been concluded to meet the February 20 deadline for payment of 494 million dollars meant for procurement of 12 A-29 Super Tucano Light-attack aircraft from US but Nigeria will not accept some of the conditions attached to the deal.
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Source: Naija.ng