The United States has approved a potential $346 million arms deal with Nigeria to strengthen the country’s counterterrorism operations and combat illicit trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to a statement from the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the package will provide Nigeria with an extensive arsenal of bombs, rockets, and precision-guided munitions. The DSCA has notified the U.S. Congress of the proposed sale, which still requires final legislative approval. Officials have emphasised that the sale will not alter the regional military balance, as the weapons are compatible with Nigeria’s existing capabilities.
Key Items in the Package Include:
- 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 MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups for GBU-12/GBU-58 bombs
- 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes
- 5,000 APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II) all-up-rounds, including guidance systems, high-explosive warheads, and MK66-4 rocket motors
The deal also includes non-major defense equipment, bomb components, impulse cartridges, high-explosive and practice rockets, test and integration equipment, and technical, engineering, and logistics support from U.S. government agencies and contractors.
Contractors Involved:
- RTX Missiles and Defense
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- BAE Systems
The DSCA noted that no additional U.S. military personnel will be deployed to Nigeria for the execution of the deal, and the arrangement will not impact U.S. defense readiness.
Strategic Context
Nigeria faces persistent security challenges, including the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgencies in the northeast, rampant banditry and kidnapping in the north-central and northwest, and maritime piracy and trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea. Supporters of the deal believe the upgraded capabilities will enhance Nigeria’s ability to tackle these threats, while also advancing U.S. foreign policy and security objectives in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2022, the U.S. approved a separate $997 million arms package for Nigeria, which included attack helicopters, precision-guided weapons, and night-vision equipment.