Kuwait Air Force
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kuwait Air Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya) is the air arm of the State of Kuwait. The Air Force headquarters is located at Al Mubarak Air Base, with the remaining forces stationed at Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base. The Kuwait Air Force numbers approximately 2,500 officer and enlisted personnel.
[edit] History
The Kuwait Air Force was formed with British assistance in the early 1950s. It was initial equipped with British aircraft (including the Hawker Hunter and BAC Lightning). In the 1970s interceptor aircraft were supplied by France (Dassault Mirage F1), and ground attack aircraft by the United States (Douglas A-4 Skyhawks).
In the 1980s the need for training aircraft was filled by the BAe Hawk and the Short Tucano. The delivery of the Tucano was delayed by the invasion of Kuwait in 1990.
After the first Gulf War the air force was re-organised and the McDonnell-Douglas F-18 Hornet replaced the Mirages and Skyhawks.
[edit] Current Equipment
- Aerospatale SA330H Puma - Transport Helicopter
- Aerospatiale SA342K Gazelle - Attack Helicopter
- BAe Hawk - Advanced Trainer
- Lockeed L-100 Hercules - Transport
- Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma - Transport Helicopter
- Eurocopter AS532SC Cougar - Maritime Security Helicopter
- McDonnell-Douglas F-18 Hornet - Interceptor and Ground Attack
- Short Tucano - Lead-in Trainer
- AH-64 Apache - Attack Helicopter
