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India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is in talks to export its homemade multi-role fighter jets to Nigeria as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to more than triple the South Asian nation’s overseas defense sales.
Discussions with Nigeria, Philippines and Argentina to export the Tejas fighter jets are progressing, C. B. Ananthakrishnan, chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics, told reporters in New Delhi.
Egypt has also shown interest in the light combat aircraft but talks are at a preliminary stage, he said.
Exports make up just 1% of revenues for the fighter jet maker that has seen a surge in large orders from the Indian defense forces.
The firm is opening offices in some overseas markets and is engaging with Nigerian Army Aviation to train officers and supply spares to help boost exports, according to its latest annual report.
Nigeria needs all the help and training it can get in its battle against Boko Haram Militants and bandits, who have unleashed a wave of terror attacks and kidnappings in the north of the country.
The army recently acknowledged it was behind a mistaken drone attack on a group of civilians on a religious procession at Tudun Biri community of Kaduna state.
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