US Approves $346m Sale of Bombs and Other Arms to Nigeria

The United States has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Nigeria covering munitions, precision bombs and rockets, and related support, with an estimated value of $346 million, according to a Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notice dated August 13 and emailed on Thursday.

DSCA said it has notified the US Congress of the prospective deal, which is intended to bolster Nigeria’s capacity to counter terrorist groups and combat illicit trafficking in-country and in the Gulf of Guinea. The sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region” and will have no adverse effect on US defense readiness, the agency noted.

Requested items include:

• 1,002 MK-82 (500 lb) general-purpose bombs
• 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups for Paveway II GBU-12 (500 lb)
• 515 MXU-1006 Air Foil Groups for Paveway II GBU-58 (250 lb)
• 1,517 MAU-169/MAU-209 computer control groups for GBU-12/GBU-58
• 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes
• 5,000 APKWS II all-up-rounds (WGU-59/B guidance section, HE warhead, MK66-4 rocket motor)

The package also covers non-major defense equipment and services, including FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes, bomb components, impulse cartridges, high-explosive and practice rockets, integration and test support, and US government/contractor technical and logistics assistance.

Principal contractors are RTX Missiles & Defense, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and BAE Systems. No offset arrangements are currently known; any such terms would be set during negotiations. DSCA added that implementation will not require additional US personnel in Nigeria. The final contract value may be lower, depending on requirements, budgets, and signed agreements.