Nigeria is currently in negotiations with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to acquire Tejas fighter jets, as reported by Bloomberg, citing Hindustan Aeronautics Chairman C. B. Ananthakrishnan.
The company is also in discussions with Argentina, Egypt, and the Philippines regarding potential sales of these aircraft.
Hindustan Aeronautics, aiming to expand its global presence, has established offices in various countries, as outlined in its latest annual report. The company is actively engaged with the Nigerian Army Aviation and the Argentine Air Force, providing training to officers and supplying spare parts to facilitate exports.
While exports contribute only 1% to the revenues of the fighter jet manufacturer, it has witnessed a surge in significant orders from the Indian Defense Force. However, Prime Minister Modi has set a goal of achieving $5 billion in annual exports by the financial year ending March 2025.
Contrary to its usual sources, Nigeria, as of a 2021 report, traditionally procures military hardware from the United States, Russia, Brazil, Pakistan, and China. In January, former President Buhari revealed that Nigeria spent approximately $1 billion on weaponry to combat the Boko Haram terrorist group. A portion of these funds was allocated to the purchase of 12 Super Tucano fighter jets from the United States, costing nearly $500 million.
Nigeria has grappled with various security challenges since 2009, starting with the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east. In recent times, banditry and kidnapping have surged in the north-west and north-central regions, particularly in states like Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, and Zamfara. Since 2017, separatist movements in the south-east have escalated, adding further strain to Nigeria’s overstretched military.
