The U.S. State Department has decided to authorize the possible sale of a dozen Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters, but the arms package does not mention the Hellfire anti-tank missile.
According to the press release issued by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) the package offered to Nigeria, valued at $997 million, consists of:
- 12 AH-1Z Viper combat helicopters
- 28 GE 401C T-700 GE 401C engines (24 installed, 4 spare)
- 2,000 APKWS (Advanced Precision Weapons System) laser-guided rockets.
Also included are the night vision display (NVCD); a GPS satellite navigation system, but in its commercial version; communications equipment; electronic warfare systems; AN/AVS-9 aviator night vision goggles; and the M197 20 mm tri-tube cannon and ammunition.
The document also mentions the inclusion of support equipment; containers; technical documentation; spare parts; tools and test equipment; as well as the training of the technical team and pilots who will operate the helicopters.
Of the total budget of the procurement package, USD 25 million will be used for the design and construction of the facilities that will house the AH-1Zs; but it will also be spent on technical/institutional assistance to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to continue the Air-to-Ground Integration (AGI) program, which includes the development of targeting processes that legally comply with International Humanitarian Law and the Laws of Armed Conflict.
To conclude:
Evidently, the US does not yet have enough confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces to put in their hands such powerful and lethal weapons as Hellfire missiles, and for now the APKWS will have to suffice.
It should be remembered that the existence of this document does not imply that the sale has been finalized. Nigeria is also evaluating as options the T-129 ATAK of Turkish Aerospace and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) of the Indian firm HAL.
