African aviation firm Allied Aeronautics is procuring four CN235-220 transport aircraft for the Nigerian Army, aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) announced in a press release.
The deal follows Nigeria and Indonesia’s discussion of potential military hardware sales to the African country and joint production in 2022, according to Military Africa.
Features
The Indonesian firm developed the CASA/IPTN CN-235 variant with technology transfer from CASA Spain in the 1980s.
Powered by two General Electric CT7-9C engines, the aircraft has a maximum speed of 237 knots (440 kilometers/273 miles per hour) and a cruise speed of 169 knots (312 kilometers/194 miles per hour).
A recently ordered Indonesian Army configuration has a maximum takeoff weight of 16,500 kilograms (36,373 pounds), with a payload of 5,200 kilograms (11,464 pounds), equivalent to 49 fully equipped soldiers or 34 paratroopers.
Other features include the ability to take off from short, unpaved runways, a glass cockpit avionics system, autopilot, and ramp doors and winglets at each wingtip for better stability and fuel economy, according to PTDI.
Strategic Step to Enter African Market
PTDI has sold 70 CN235-220s worldwide, including five to African nations Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
“The export of the CN235-220 aircraft to the African continent has strategic value for national industry because the track record of supplying export orders and satisfaction of overseas customers will then become the main requirements in international tender activities,” the company stated.
“This new contract for Nigeria is also one of our strategic steps to penetrate the markets of South Asian and African countries.”
Nigeria’s Shopping List
Abuja has sought to buy over 50 military aircraft to deal with its twin problems of banditry and Islamic insurgency, including m-346 attack aircraft, T-129 ATAK helicopters, Agusta 109 Trekker multi-role helicopters, and Chinese-made Wing Loong II drones.
It recently bought 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters from the US for $1 billion.
