# US supplies second C-130H Hercules to Nigér

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2021/12/us-supplies-second-c-130h-hercules-to-niger/
- Published: 2021-12-13T15:37:12+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

The United States has delivered a second C-130H Hercules transport aircraft to 
Nigér, a third C-130H will arrive in the first half of 2022.

The C-130H (5U-MMS) was handed over on 7 December, during a ceremony at the Nigérien
Air Base 101 in the capital Niamey. The aircraft will be used for humanitarian assistance
operations and United Nations troop and vehicle movements.

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 military.africa/2021/01/niger-receives-c-130h-hercules-aircraft-from-us

A C-130H was [earlier delivered in January this year.](https://www.military.africa/2021/12/us-supplies-second-c-130h-hercules-to-niger/military.africa/2021/01/niger-receives-c-130h-hercules-aircraft-from-us)
The US plans to deliver three C-130Hs in total to Niger. In addition, the US intends
to start construction on a new C-130 hangar at BA101 in order to ensure Niger has
adequate facilities to fly and maintain these aircraft.

United States has invested more than $30 million in Nigér’s C-130 programme including
a training component, purchase of spare parts, infrastructure, fuel and support 
equipment.

In 2015, Niger requested a WC-130H aircraft and a wing set (total acquisition value
$63 million) and in 2019 requested four T56-A-15 engines and propellers for the 
Hercules, worth $6 million.

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The United States has trained 16 Nigerien pilots, 19 maintenance personnel, five
baggage handlers and a flight engineer. Also, more than $17 million has been injected
into the acquisition of critical infrastructure including the renovation of a hangar
for the C-130 at Air Base Number 201 in Agadez, according to Ambassador Eric Whitaker.

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In Arkansas, Little Rock Air Force Base’s C-130 Formal Training Unit provided the
country with an international pilot training program, which graduatedthe first Nigerien
female pilot and educated other pilots in the program.

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