Alenia Aeronautica has signed a €60 million ($72 million) contract with the Nigerian government for the refurbishment and support of five G222 medium transports supplied to the country in the mid-1980s by the then-Aeritalia, plus the provision of one ex-Italian air force aircraft.
In addition to providing a complete depot-level inspection, eliminating obsolescent parts and upgrading systems, the contract also covers delivery of the secondhand aircraft by Alenia Aeronautica, as well as providing crew and technician training, maintenance and logistics support for two years.
The company will also supply equipment for increased maintenance activities and will build new infrastructure including a hangar at Ilorin airbase, around 300km (160nm) north of the capital, Lagos.
The fleet, which has been stored in an unserviceable condition from the early 1990s, will be redelivered to the air force between late 2006 and late 2008. The G222’s return to service will allow Nigeria to better support its troops participating in peacekeeping operations, particularly within Africa.
Nigeria’s first G222 will be delivered to Italy for overhaul alongside the ex-Italian air force aircraft, with the remainder to be overhauled in Nigeria. Alenia Aeronautica is marketing G222 upgrades and additional ex-Italian air force aircraft made surplus by the service’s acquisition of the Alenia/Lockheed Martin C-27J.
Two of the Nigerian air force’s eight Lockheed C-130H transports are also being overhauled by a local company, with the service having in late 2003 received spare parts from the US government as part of a $7.5 million aid package, including training and technical publications.
Source: Flight International
