The US State Department has approved the sale of 12 Viper attack helicopters worth almost one billion dollars to Nigeria, despite concerns over human rights.

The purchase of AH-1Z Vipers includes guidance and night vision imaging systems as well as training for an estimated 997 million dollars.

It "will better equip Nigeria to contribute to shared security objectives, promote regional stability and build interoperability with the US and other Western partners," the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement on Thursday.

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in sub-Saharan Africa."

US principal contractor Bell Textron lists the Vipers' capacity for reconnaissance and escort missions as well as its firepower.

Last November US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Nigeria and urged Africa's most populous country to take on a bigger role on the continent.

Washington has long courted Nigerian leaders but baulked at the bloody repression of peaceful protests against police violence in October 2020.

Congress had also delayed the sale of military equipment to Nigeria where the army's commitment to protect civilians while fighting a jihadist uprising in the northwest has been called into question.

But last year, Nigeria began taking delivery of US Super Tucano light attack aircraft that then-president Donald Trump approved in 2017.

That overturned the suspension of sales by his predecessor Barack Obama after Nigerian planes accidentally bombed a refugee camp killing more than 100 people.

(stock image only)

Related Links
The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Ukraine calls for 'weapons, weapons, weapons' at NATO talks
Brussels (AFP) April 7, 2022
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday called on NATO members to provide Kyiv with all the heavy weaponry it needs to fight Russia's invading forces. "My agenda is very simple. It has only three items on it. Its weapons, weapons, and weapons," Kuleba told journalists ahead of a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. "I call on all allies to put aside their hesitations, their reluctance, to provide Ukraine with everything it needs," he said. Ukraine is pushing the W ... read more