The U.S. State Department has given its approval for a potential Foreign Military Sale of munitions, precision bombs, and precision rockets to the Nigerian government, with an estimated value of $346 million. This decision, announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in a notification to Congress, is intended to bolster Nigeria’s defense capabilities and support U.S. foreign policy objectives in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The proposed sale package is a comprehensive assortment of advanced weaponry and support equipment designed to enhance Nigeria’s ability to counter a range of security threats, including terrorism and illicit trafficking. The request from Nigeria includes a variety of items, with some of the major components being:
1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500 lb bombs
1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups (AFGs) for GBU-12 bombs
515 MXU-1006 AFGs for GBU-58 bombs
1,517 computer control groups for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58
1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes
5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) all-up-rounds
The deal also includes non-major defense equipment such as additional fuzes, bomb components, rocket motors, as well as logistical and technical support from U.S. government and contractor personnel. The principal contractors for this potential transaction are listed as Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defense, and BAE Systems.
According to the DSCA, the sale is a strategic move to “improve the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.” The agency emphasized that the deal would not negatively impact the military balance of power in the region and would not require the deployment of any additional U.S. government or contractor personnel to Nigeria.
The DSCA’s statement concluded by noting that while the $346 million figure represents the highest estimated value, the final cost would be determined by the specific requirements and a signed sales agreement between Nigeria and the contractors.
