{"id":16910,"date":"2018-11-19T16:02:42","date_gmt":"2018-11-19T16:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/11\/19\/completion-of-us-drone-base-in-niger-to-be-delayed\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:45:12","slug":"completion-of-us-drone-base-in-niger-to-be-delayed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/unmanned\/2018\/11\/19\/completion-of-us-drone-base-in-niger-to-be-delayed\/","title":{"rendered":"Completion of US drone base in Niger to be delayed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Niger Air Base 201<\/a>, a future hub for armed drones and other aircraft, won\u2019t be completed until the middle of 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The base was originally intended to be operational by the end of this year, but the region\u2019s difficult weather and harsh environment is pushing completion back, an official with U.S. Africa Command<\/a> told Air Force Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWeather (rainy season) and other environmental complexities are a few reasons for this minimal delay,\u201d the official said in an email. \u201cBecause construction on the airfield and runway is ongoing, there are no U.S. ISR aircraft operating out a Nigerian Air Base 201.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The base\u2019s total cost will be roughly $100 million, according to previous AFRICOM estimates. Officials did not immediately respond when asked whether the delays into next year are expected to increase the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Base 201 will eventually house the U.S. armed drone mission<\/a> in Niger that currently operates out of Niger\u2019s capital, Niamey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A thunderstorm collapses and causes air and dust to move through the atmosphere and transform into a sand storm at Nigerien Air Base 201, Niger, June 24, 2018. Air Base 201 was hit by four sandstorms throughout the last two weeks. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Jamison)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. officials have described the construction of Air Base 201, located near the Nigerien city of Agadez on the edge of the Sahara Desert, as the largest Air Force-led construction project in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The armed drone mission in Niger was approved in early 2018 with consent of the local government. The drones are part of a long-term partnership between the U.S. and Niger to counter violent extremists in the region, such as Boko Haram and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. military is reducing its personnel in Africa by about 10 percent in the coming years so the Pentagon can reallocate forces to address threats from China and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\t