Kenya Air Force




Air warfare branch of Kenya's military









































































Kenya Air Force
Jeshi la Anga la Kenya

Kenya Air Force
Kenya Air Force emblem

Founded 1 June 1964 (1964-06-01)
Country
Kenya
Branch Air force
Role Aerial warfare
Size 152 Aircraft
Part of Kenya Defence Forces
Command Headquarters Nairobi
Motto(s) Tuko Imara Angani
Engagements
Operation Linda Nchi
(16 October 2011 – June 2012)
AU Mission in Somalia
(June 2012 – Present)
Commanders
Air Force commander Major General Francis Ogolla
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of Kenya.svg
Flag Air Force Ensign of Kenya.svg
Aircraft flown
Fighter Northrop F-5
Helicopter Mil Mi-171, SA330 Puma, MD 500, Bell UH-1
Trainer Bulldog, Short Tucano, Grob G 120
Transport DHC-5, Harbin Y-12

The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national aerial warfare service branch of the Republic of Kenya.


The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the headquarters. Other bases include Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mombasa (Moi International Airport), FOB Mandera, FOB Wajir & FOB Nyeri (mainly helicopters/small planes). In 2017 Jordan donated 2 confirmed AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters for the air force; these together with the Army's 50th Air Cavalry helicopters are controlled by the Joint Helicopter Command based at Embakasi Garrison.




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 Aircraft


    • 2.1 Current inventory




  • 3 See also


  • 4 References


  • 5 Bibliography


  • 6 External links





History


The Kenya Air Force was formed on 1 June 1964, soon after independence, with the assistance of the United Kingdom.[1][2]


Former aircraft in service included de Havilland Canada Chipmunks and Beavers (since 1974), six Hawker Hunters (bought from RAF, in operation from 1974–79), six BAC Strikemaster fighters (in operation from 1971), and 12 BAE Systems Hawks delivered in 1980. All these types have now been withdrawn.


From 1979–1982 President Daniel arap Moi used Northrop 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 1 August 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.


On 10 April 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.


Since 1978, the F-5 has been the KAF's main air defence fighter. A total of 29 were delivered: 12 F-5E & 2 F-5F from the USA, and 10 F-5E, 3 F-5EM, & 2 F-5F formerly in service with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF). The ex-RJAF aircraft were upgraded to F-5EM standard before being delivered to the Kenya Air Force. There was controversy over the purchase of the F-5s from Jordan, which were shipped to Kenya and assembled locally,[4] Currently a F-5 upgrade and procurement program is underway for 10 F-5E, 2 F-5F, and 3 F-5EM from Jordan. The Kenya Air Force has taken delivery of 6 out of 8 Huey UH-1H helicopters.[5].


The US government approved a proposed foreign military sale for twelve Air Tractor AT-802L light-attack aircraft to the government of Kenya. As of August 2017, the Kenyan government has not yet signed a contract for the proposed sale.[6]




A Mil Mi-171E at Wilson Airport



Aircraft



Current inventory




A Kenyan Y-12
































































































































































Aircraft
 Origin
 Type
 Variant
 In service
 Notes

Combat aircraft

Northrop F-5
 United States
 fighter
F-5E
 17[7]

Reconnaissance

Cessna 208
 United States
 surveillance / light transport
2[7]

Transport

Harbin Y-12
 China
 transport
11[7]

Antonov An-28
 Russia
 transport

3 on order[7]

DHC-5 Buffalo
 Canada
 utility / transport
4[7]

C-27J Spartan
 Italy
 transport

3 on order[7][8]

Bombardier Dash 8
 Canada
VIP
3[7]

Helicopters

Bell UH-1
 United States
 utility
UH-1H
 7[7]

Bell AH-1
 United States
 attack
AH-1F
 2[9]
 donated by Jordan

Mil Mi-17
 Russia
 utility / transport
Mi-171
 2[7]

Harbin Z-9
 China
 utility
6[7]

Airbus H125M
 Europe
 utility
9[7]

SA 330 Puma
 France
 utility / transport
9[7]

MD 500 Defender
 United States
 light attack
530F
 40
 12 on order[7]

Trainer aircraft

Northrop F-5
 United States
 conversion trainer
F-5F
 4[7]

Short Tucano
 United Kingdom
 trainer
Tucano 51
 12[7]
licence-built variant of the EMB-312

Grob G 120
 Germany
 trainer
120A
 5[7]

Bulldog T1
 United Kingdom
 basic trainer
11[7]


See also


  • Military of Kenya


References





  1. ^ "Historical Background of the Kenya Air Force: Pre-Independence Period". Ministry Of Defence- Kenya. 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
    [permanent dead link]


  2. ^ "Historical Background of the Kenya Air Force: Independence and Post-Independence Period". Ministry Of Defence- Kenya. 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
    [permanent dead link]


  3. ^ "Escorting Moi with fighter jets". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2009.


  4. ^ The Nation, [1] Archived 16 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine


  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 March 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-25.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)



  6. ^ abcdefghijklmnopq Hoyle Flight International 4–10 December 2019, p. 48


  7. ^ "Treasury borrows Sh32bn for arms". Business Daily. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.


  8. ^ "Kenyan AH-1 Cobras coming from Jordan". defenceweb.co.za. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.




Bibliography




  • Hoyle, Chris (9–15 December 2014). "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 186 no. 5468. pp. 24–55.


  • Hoyle, Chris (4–10 December 2018). "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 194 no. 5665. pp. 32–60. ISSN 0015-3710.



External links






  • Kenya Air Force – official website








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