Nigeria cleared to buy the AH-1Z but armed with rockets instead of Hellfire missiles

The Biden administration has cleared the potential sale of 12 Bell AH-1Z attack helicopters to Nigeria. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on the Foreign Military Sale on Apr. 14.

A U.S. Marine AH-1Z Viper with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167 takes off in Charleston, West Virginia, July 26, 2019. HMLA-167 is subordinate command of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. William L.Holdaway)


The Pentagon mentioned in Transmittal No 22-24 that it will sell 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guidance sections under the sale package along with the M197 20mm cannon. This means Nigeria will not be able to equip the rotorcraft with AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles.

The total estimated program cost is $997 million and the DoD says the sale will be a major contribution to U.S. and Nigerian security goals.

For more information, hit the Source below

Source