Kenya Air Force

Kenya Air Force

Founded 1 June 1964
Country Kenya
Part of Kenyan Armed Forces
Motto Tuko Imara Angani
Commanders
Air Force commander Major General Joff Otieno
Insignia
Roundel

The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national Air Force of Kenya.

The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the HQ & operations Kenya Air Force. Other bases include FOB Mombasa (Moi inter. Airport), FOB Mandera, FOB Wajir & FOB Nyeri (mainly helicopters/small planes).

Contents

Fleet

Until the recent purchase of Chinese Harbin Y-12 transports and Russian Mil Mi-17 helicopters, all of the KAF's aircraft were provided by Western countries through MFS (military foreign sales) or FMF (foreign military finance). The fleet consists of:

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service[1][2] Notes
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma  France
 Romania
transport helicopter SA 330G 12
9
Since 1977, 9 built by IAR
Mil Mi-17  Russia transport helicopter Mi 17-1 2

First seen publicly on 22 August 2010. One crashed.

Aérospatiale Gazelle  France helicopter SA 342 1 Since 1979(2 Deliverd)
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo  Canada tactical transport DHC-5D 7 Since 1977. 12 Deliverd.
de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8  Canada transport DHC-8 3 Since 1990
Fokker 70  Netherlands VIP transport F70 1
Harbin Y-12  China utility transport Y-12 12 Since 1999
MD Helicopters MD 500  United States utility helicopter
scout helicopter
attack helicopter
MD 500M
MD 500MD
MD 500MD/TOW
10
15
15
Since 1979
Harbin Z-9  China utility helicopter
attack helicopter
Z-9
WZ-9
4
54
WZ-9 delivered Jan 2010, 50 delivered in 2011.
MBB Bo 105  Germany Light helicopter BO-105-S 1 Operated by the police air wing as an Air Ambulance.
CASA CN-235  Spain transporter CN-235M 3?
Northrop F-5 Tiger II  United States fighter
trainer
F-5E
F-5F
18
4
Since 1978, it is the KAF's main air defence fighter. A total of 29 Deliverd: 14 from USA+ 15 ex RJAF .
Scottish Aviation Bulldog  United Kingdom trainer Bulldog 103
Bulldog 127
3
2
Since 1972, 5 built
13-14built
Short Tucano  United Kingdom trainer Tucano 12 Since 1990. 13 Deliverd. Some for C.O.I.N ops (counter insurgency aircraft)

Anti-aircraft equipment:

Missiles

In addition to the Air Force, the police air wing operates 11 aircraft (including 3 Bell 206L Long Ranger  United States, 3 Bell 212  United States , 4 Mil Mi-17 Hip  Russia\ Soviet Union

Former fleet:

History

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

From 1979-1982 President Daniel arap Moi used Air Force F-5 fighter jets to escort his flights in and out of the country; later commentators have pointed out that there was no threat justifying the waste of fuel and the difficult and complex requirements of the escort mission.[3]

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 the 82 Air Force. The Air Force regained its independent status in 1994. Currently it is a professional force with F-5 upgrade and procurement underway (10 F-5E, 2 F-5F, and 3 F-5EM from Jordan[4]).

On April 10, 2006 a KAF Harbin Y-12 crashed near Marsabit with 17 on board, of whom 14 died. It was carrying several local and national politicians; Bonaya Godana, a former minister, was among the casualties. The pilot in command was Major David Njoroge.

There has been a controversy over the purchase of used F-5 jets from Jordan, which were shipped to Kenya and assembled locally.[5]

Commanders

The following officers have been in command of the Kenya Air Force:[6]

See also

References

External links