In a significant development, the United States Department of State has approved a potential arms sale to Nigeria valued at approximately $346 million, covering a wide range of munitions, precision-guided bombs, and rockets.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), Nigeria’s request includes:
1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500 lb bombs, 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups (AFGs), 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II high-explosive warheads, MK66-4 rocket motors, among other items.
The proposed package also includes non-major defence equipment such as FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes, bomb components, impulse cartridges, high-explosive and practice rockets, integration and test equipment, as well as technical, engineering, and logistics support from both the US government and contractors.
The primary contractors named for the sale are Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defense (RTX.N), and BAE Systems (BAES.L), three of the most prominent players in the global defence industry.
Lockheed Martin is renowned for advanced aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II, the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, and cutting-edge missile defence systems.
RTX (Raytheon Technologies) is the world’s second-largest military contractor, specialising in precision-guided weapons, missile defence, radar systems, and aerospace technology.
BAE Systems is a leader in advanced defence, aerospace, and security solutions, supplying land, air, and naval systems worldwide.
While the DSCA stressed that the approval does not guarantee the deal will be finalised, it noted that the sale would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for counterterrorism operations, regional stability, and defence cooperation with the United States.
