Kenya Air Force

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The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national Air force of Kenya. Due to lack of combat it largely provides relief services.

The main air base hosting fighters is the Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is another major airport used by the Kenya Air Force.

1 Fleet
2 History
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Fleet

The fleet is ancient in western terms, but not worse when compared to many other African countries. Until the recent purchase of Chinese Y-12 planes, all of the aircraft were from western countries due to military aid. The fleet consists of:

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service^[1]	Notes
Aérospatiale Puma	France Romania	transport helicopter	SA 330G	12	9 built by IAR
BAE Hawk	United Kingdom	trainer	Hawk 52	7
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo	Canada	tactical transport	DHC-5D	7
de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8	Canada	transport		3
Dornier Do 28	Germany	utility	Do 28D	4
Fokker 70	Netherlands	tactical transport		1
Harbin Y-12	China	utility transport		24
MD Helicopters MD 500	United States	utility helicopter	MD 500M	30
Northrop F-5 Tiger II	United States	fighter trainer	F-5E F-5F	5 2
Scottish Aviation Bulldog	United Kingdom	trainer	Bulldog 103 Bulldog 127	3 2	5 built 9 built
Short Tucano	United Kingdom	trainer		11

The anti aircraft capability is formidable with Mistral anti aircraft missiles and 25, 35 and 40mm cannons all under optronic control.

In addition to the Air Force, the police air wing operates 11 aircraft.

Former fleet:

Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters (in operation since 1979)
BAC 167 Strikemaster fighters (in operation since 1971)(sold to Botswana 1993-94)
Hawker Hunter fighters (bought from RAF, in operation 1974-79)
DHC-1 Chipmunk trainers (in operation 1964-74)
DHC-2 Beaver bush planes (in operation 1964-83)
DHC-4 Caribou transport (in operation 1966-87)

[edit] History

Kenya Air Force was formed in 1 June 1964, soon after independence, with the assistance of United Kingdom.

After a failed coup by a group of Air Force officers on August 1, 1982, the Air Force was disbanded. Air Force activity was reconstituted and placed under tighter army control as '82 Air Force. The Air force regained its independent status in 1994. Currently it is a highly professional force with F-5 upgrade and procurement underway.

On April 10, 2006 an Harbin Y-12 plane owned by Kenya Air Force crashed near Marsabit. The plane was carrying several local and national politicians. It had 17 on board, of which 14 died. Bonaya Godana, a former minister was among the casualties. The pilot in command was Major David Njoroge