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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Director of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate Brig. Gen. Joel Safranek gives remarks at Kainji Air Force Base in Nigeria during ceremonies celebrating recently completed base infrastructure improvements there April 27, 2023. He participated in ribbon cutting ceremonies highlighting the completion of several construction projects supporting recently delivered A-29 Super Tucano aircraft. The construction was part of the historic $500 million U.S. foreign military sale to Nigeria, which also includes the delivery of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, munitions, and training. (U.S. Embassy in Nigeria photo by Olaoluwa Aworinde)Brig. Gen. Joel Safranek, director of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, gives his remarks during ceremonies celebrating recently completed base infrastructure improvements, at Kainji Air Force Base, Nigeria, April 27, 2023. The construction was part of the historic $500 million U.S. foreign military sale to Nigeria, which also includes the delivery of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, munitions and training. (U.S. Embassy in Nigeria photo by Olaoluwa Aworinde)
                
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        U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District Project Engineer Wale Adelakun, Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore MA Akiode and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division Commander Col. John Lloyd discuss the positive impacts of construction efforts at Kainji Air Force Base in Nigeria following a ceremony celebrating recently completed base infrastructure improvements there April 27, 2023.U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District Project Engineer Wale Adelakun, Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore MA Akiode and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division Commander Col. John Lloyd discuss the positive impacts of construction efforts at Kainji Air Force Base in Nigeria following a ceremony celebrating recently completed base infrastructure improvements there April 27, 2023. They participated in ribbon-cutting ceremonies highlighting the completion of several construction projects supporting recently delivered A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, like the sun shades they are under and improvements to the hangar facility behind them. (U.S. Army photo by Chris Gardner)
                
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Nigerian Air Force receives new facilities for A-29 Super Tucano fleetPublished May 3, 2023
                    
                    By Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs
            **KAINJI AIR BASE, Nigeria (AFNS) --**Less than two years after 12 **A-29 Super Tucanos** were **inducted** into the **Nigerian Air Force**, a $38-million project to construct new facilities for the aircraft was successfully completed at Kainji Air Base. 
 
To celebrate the occasion, the **Nigerian Ministry of Defence** hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 27, attended by senior members of the U.S. **Department of Defense**. 
 
“This ceremony marks the end of the construction process and the turnover of new facilities to the Nigerian Air Force for its use,” said **Brig. Gen. Joel Safranek**, director of the **Air Force Life Cycle Management Center**’s Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, which organized and led the security cooperation agreement. “The A-29 provides light attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities needed to confront security threats and the newly constructed facilities provide the support needed to keep the aircraft operational and effective. The United States looks forward to a long-term, enduring relationship with Nigeria.” 
 
The effort, in partnership with the**U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**, is AFSAC’s first major construction project in sub-Saharan Africa and is part of a larger $500 million total package approach, to include the acquisition, training and long-term sustainment of the aircraft. 
 
Some of the major construction upgrades include the creation of a munition storage area with earth-covered magazines for secure storage capability. The area also includes a munitions maintenance and assembly facility, new taxiway and hot cargo pad. 
 
To support A-29 operations, a new facility with mission planning and debriefing rooms and a Battle Aviation Training Device was constructed. 
 
The team also modernized an existing hangar, adding more electrical capability to maintain the aircraft and renovating the tire shop and battery room. In addition, 12 sunshades were installed to provide sun protection for maintenance crews and the aircraft when they are not in a hangar. 
 
The construction project also significantly increased security infrastructure with the installation of miles of fencing and improvements to base entry control points. 
 
“I'm excited to be part of this project,” said David Snook, program manager for facilities and infrastructure within AFSAC. “It’s extremely important work and a lot of effort went into it from everybody involved. The facilities and the aircraft will provide the Nigerian Air Force an advantage as they support their country’s national security.” 
 
“I look forward to our continued actions to make the A-29 fleet successful in strengthening Nigeria’s national security,” added Valerie Halvorsen, AFLCMC program manager for A-29 Nigeria Foreign Military Sales. “The A-29 is important, not only to the region, but also our collective security posture to address challenges around the world.”LR 



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