Richard Ginika Izuora
Nigeria has taken delivery of its first six A-29 Super Tucano planes, four years after the United States agreed to sell the light attack aircraft to fight insurgents.
Nigerian Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, who confirmed the delivery this in a statement in Abuja, said the aircraft arrived in Kano, at about 12.34 p.m.
Already, Air Force authorities have started training personnel to handle the new Tucano aircraft which it says is the most critical airpower component that must be enhanced and sustained for effective and efficient performance.
“On the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, the CAS stated that about 60 NAF personnel, comprising pilots, engineers, technicians, as well as other specialists, have completed their training on the aircraft in the USA,” Gabkwet said.
Air Force officials that received the aircraft included the Minister of Defence, Major.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Faruk Yahaya; as well as Chief of Air Staf (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao.