# US conducting ISR flights over Nigeria

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2025/12/us-conducting-isr-flights-over-nigeria/
- Published: 2025-12-26T08:37:31+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

A Gulfstream V long-range business jet, modified for specialised intelligence missions,
has become a daily fixture in the skies over West Africa. Operating from the Ghanaian
capital of Accra, the aircraft represents a sharp increase in United States surveillance
activity over Nigeria.

The missions are primarily conducted by Tenax Aerospace, a Mississippi-based contractor
that provides special mission aircraft for the Department of Defense. Flight tracking
data indicates the aircraft typically departs from Ghana, maintains a persistent
presence over Nigerian territory, and returns to its hub in Accra. This operational
pattern effectively utilises Ghana as a primary logistics node for the United States
military following its forced withdrawal from a major air base in Niger last year.

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The Gulfstream V, or G-V, is an ultra-long-range jet capable of flying at altitudes
up to 51,000 feet. In a military context, the aircraft is designated as the C-37A,
but contractor-operated versions like those utilised by Tenax Aerospace often feature
extensive modifications for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
roles. These platforms typically integrate various sensor suites, including electro-
optical and infrared (EO/IR) cameras for high-definition visual monitoring and signals
intelligence (SIGINT) hardware to intercept and analyse electronic communications.

Operating at high altitudes provides these sensors with a broad field of regard,
which is essential for tracking militant movements across the vast and porous borders
of northern Nigeria. The G-V performance specifications, including a maximum speed
of Mach 0.885 and an endurance of over 14 hours, allow the United States to conduct
persistent overwatch missions with fewer airframes than smaller, shorter-range platforms
would require. Tenax Aerospace, which was recently observed operating from MacDill
Air Force Base in Florida before deploying to Ghana on November 24, 2025, maintains
a close partnership with the United States Special Operations Command to support
such missions.

The current surveillance surge is not merely a technical adjustment; it is a response
to a deteriorating diplomatic and security environment.^() In November 2025, President
Donald Trump warned that the United States might intervene militarily if Nigeria
failed to halt violence targeting Christian communities.^() This rhetoric culminated
in his statement that the United States may enter the country “guns-a-blazing” to
protect those he described as “cherished Christians.”^()

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This surge follows a series of warnings from the Trump administration regarding 
the security of Christian communities and the kidnapping of an American citizen 
in the region. In November, _The New York Times_ [reported ](https://www.military.africa/2025/11/us-military-prepares-airstrike-plans-for-nigeria-report/)
that the US President Donald Trump had directed the Pentagon to “prepare to intervene”
to protect Christians in Nigeria.

The administration has [coupled these warnings with formal diplomatic and economic pressure](https://www.military.africa/2025/11/us-military-prepares-airstrike-plans-for-nigeria-report/).
In October 2025, the United States redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular
Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act. This designation is
a legal mechanism used for nations that engage in or tolerate severe violations 
of religious freedom. Following this, on December 3, 2025, Secretary of State Marco
Rubio announced visa restrictions on Nigerian individuals and their families involved
in anti-Christian violence.

The pressure intensified on December 25, 2025, when President Trump announced that
the United States military had conducted strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets
in Sokoto State, located in northwestern Nigeria.^() United States Africa Command(
AFRICOM) reported that the strikes targeted “ISIS Terrorist Scum” responsible for
killing civilians.^() While the Pentagon stated the strikes were coordinated with
Nigerian authorities, the unilateral announcement by the White House on Christmas
night highlighted the administration’s aggressive posture.^()

### Tracking the Kidnapped American Pilot

A primary objective of the increased ISR activity is the recovery of Kevin Rideout,
an American missionary pilot who was kidnapped in Niamey, Niger, on October 21, 
2025. Rideout, who works for the evangelical agency Serving in Mission (SIM International),
was abducted just 100 yards from the presidential palace in the Nigerien capital.
^() Analysts believe the kidnappers moved him toward the border regions where Islamic
State Sahel Province (ISSP) and al-Qaeda affiliates are most active.^()

Locating a single individual in the dense, arid terrain of the Sahel requires sophisticated“
pattern of life” analysis. The Tenax Aerospace missions likely focus on monitoring
known militant transit routes and communication nodes that could provide leads on
Rideout’s location. This intelligence gathering is a critical component of the operational
options presented by AFRICOM to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in late 2025.

### Nigeria’s Response: Security Emergency and Internal Reforms

The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has pushed back against the
narrative of targeted Christian persecution, arguing that the violence affects both
Muslims and Christians alike.^() Officials in Abuja maintain that the crisis is 
a complex mix of extremist insurgency, communal rivalries, and resource competition.
However, facing the threat of a full United States military intervention and the
loss of international aid, the Nigerian government has taken several domestic steps.

President Tinubu declared a security emergency in late 2025, ordering the mass recruitment
of military and police personnel to tackle the escalating violence. This mobilisation
follows a series of mass abductions, including the kidnapping of more than 300 schoolchildren
in the north. Additionally, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has [pledged significant internal reforms](https://www.military.africa/2025/11/naf-pledges-reforms-amid-us-intervention-threat/)
to improve its tactical response and intelligence sharing capabilities.

During a November 20 meeting between Nigerian National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu
and Defense Secretary Hegseth, the two nations agreed to formalise air asset deployment
for intelligence gathering. This agreement led to the creation of a joint task force
designed to bridge the gap between United States technical intelligence and Nigerian
ground operations. United States Representative Riley Moore, who visited Nigeria
on a fact-finding mission in December 2025, noted that while the humanitarian situation
remains dire, both nations are moving toward a strategic security framework to address
the shared threats of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The shift of ISR operations to Accra, Ghana, reflects a broader restructuring of
the United States security footprint in West Africa.^() After the 2024 military 
coup in Niger and the subsequent order for United States troops to vacate Air Base
201, the Pentagon has been forced to find alternative hubs.^() Liam Karr, Africa
Team Lead for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute,
notes that the resumption of flights from Accra indicates Washington is actively
rebuilding its capacity to monitor the region.^()

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Accra is a logical choice due to its established logistics infrastructure and stable
relationship with the United States.^() However, the long transit times from Ghana
to northern Nigeria place additional stress on flight crews and airframes. This 
makes high-endurance platforms like the Tenax Gulfstream V indispensable for maintaining
the current operational tempo.

The long-term implications of this foreign military involvement remain a point of
debate among African observers. While the intelligence provided by the United States
is vital for counterinsurgency efforts, the overt threats of intervention raise 
substantial concerns regarding national sovereignty. The current “guns-a-blazing”
policy represents a departure from traditional soft-power diplomacy, prioritising
direct action and tactical results over long-term institutional building.

As of late December 2025, the daily surveillance flights continue.^() The effectiveness
of this strategy will likely be measured by the security of the kidnapped pilot 
and the stability of the Nigerian border regions in the face of persistent extremist
pressure.

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