By Elohor Igbru
The end may be in sight for Boko Haram insurgency and banditry in the country as one of the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft produced for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has completed production and first test flight and is combat proven.
This was revealed by the production company Sierra Nevada Corporation/Embraer Defense and Security on its Twitter handle. Nigeria had ordered 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the after extensive talks with the United States government. The aircraft would be delivered in batches with the initial delivery consisting of six aircraft.
The aircraft were purchased during the time of former Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar. “A total of 200 personnel are receiving training in nine different countries of the world on handling combat aircraft. They will soon join their colleagues in the fight against insecurity and in particular, insurgency in the North East,” Abubakar said last year.
The current CAS, Air Marshall Oladayo Amao during his first week in office visited landing platforms in Kainji and was satisfied with the level of preparedness to receive the aircraft.
The Super Tucano is a “gold standard for light attack, combat and reconnaissance aircraft,” says the manufacturers and is the service around the world with U.S partner nations. “It is selected by 15 Air Forces worldwide. It will help the U.S partner nations achieve the goal of “strong alliances and partnership to battle international threats,” Sierra Nevada Corporation said.
Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai said there is end in sight for boko haram insurgency and banditry. “Good News: The beginning of the end of insurgency and banditry by the special Grace of God. Thank you Air Marshal Sadiq (retired) for reviving the NAF. Thank you Air Marshall Amao for continuing the proactive work to end banditry in our state,” he said.
