Kenya Air Force
Encyclopedia
The Kenya Air Force 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).
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:
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
||
|| transport helicopter || SA 330G || 12
9 || Since 1977, 9 built by IAR
|-----
| Mil Mi-17 || || transport helicopter || Mi 17-1 || 2 ||
First seen publicly on 22 August 2010. One crashed.
|-----
| Aérospatiale Gazelle
|| || helicopter || SA 342 || 1 || Since 1979(2 Deliverd)
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
|| || tactical transport || DHC-5D || 7 || Since 1977. 12 Deliverd.
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 || || transport || DHC-8 || 3 || Since 1990
|-----
| Fokker 70 || || VIP transport || F70 || 1 ||
|-----
| Harbin Y-12
|| || utility transport || Y-12 || 12 || Since 1999
|-----
| MD Helicopters MD 500
|| || utility helicopter
scout helicopter
attack helicopter || MD 500M
MD 500MD
MD 500MD/TOW || 10
15
15 || Since 1979
|-----
| Harbin Z-9
|| || utility helicopter
attack helicopter || Z-9
WZ-9 || 4
54 || WZ-9 delivered Jan 2010, 50 delivered in 2011.
|-----
| MBB Bo 105 || || 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 || || 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
|| || trainer || Bulldog 103
Bulldog 127 || 3
2 || Since 1972, 5 built
13-14built
|-----
| Short Tucano
|| || trainer || Tucano || 12 || Since 1990. 13 Deliverd. Some for C.O.I.N ops (counter insurgency aircraft)
|}
Anti-aircraft equipment:
In addition to the Air Force, the police air wing operates 11 aircraft (including 3 Bell 206
L Long Ranger , 3 Bell 212 , 4 Mil Mi-17
Hip \
Former fleet:
.
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.
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).
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.
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki
Nanyuki
Nanyuki is a market town in central-east Rift Valley region of Kenya lying northwest of Mount Kenya along the A2 road and at the terminus of the branch railway from Nairobi. It is situated just north of the Equator . It was founded in 1907 by British settlers, some of whose descendants still live...
, while Moi Air Base
Moi Air Base
Moi Air Base, formerly known as RAF Eastleigh and Eastleigh Airport is a military airport located to the east of Nairobi, in the Eastleigh suburb. The airport is used by the Kenya Air Force...
in Eastleigh
Eastleigh, Nairobi
Eastleigh is a suburb of Nairobi, Kenya. It is located east of the Central business district. Predominantly inhabited by Somali immigrants, it has been described as "Little Mogadishu", as well as "a country within a country with its own economy" on account of its robust business...
, Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
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).
Fleet
Until the recent purchase of Chinese Harbin Y-12Harbin Y-12
-See also:-Bibliography:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 07106-0867-5....
transports and Russian Mil Mi-17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
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:
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
Aérospatiale Puma
The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally manufactured by Sud Aviation of France.-Development:...
||
|| transport helicopter || SA 330G || 12
9 || Since 1977, 9 built by IAR
|-----
| Mil Mi-17 || || transport helicopter || Mi 17-1 || 2 ||
First seen publicly on 22 August 2010. One crashed.
|-----
| Aérospatiale Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
|| || helicopter || SA 342 || 1 || Since 1979(2 Deliverd)
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
The de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing utility transport, a turboprop aircraft developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou...
|| || tactical transport || DHC-5D || 7 || Since 1977. 12 Deliverd.
|-----
| de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 || || transport || DHC-8 || 3 || Since 1990
|-----
| Fokker 70 || || VIP transport || F70 || 1 ||
|-----
| Harbin Y-12
Harbin Y-12
-See also:-Bibliography:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 07106-0867-5....
|| || utility transport || Y-12 || 12 || Since 1999
|-----
| MD Helicopters MD 500
MD Helicopters MD 500
The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
|| || utility helicopter
scout helicopter
attack helicopter || MD 500M
MD 500MD
MD 500MD/TOW || 10
15
15 || Since 1979
|-----
| Harbin Z-9
Harbin Z-9
|-See also:-External links:* * *...
|| || utility helicopter
attack helicopter || Z-9
WZ-9 || 4
54 || WZ-9 delivered Jan 2010, 50 delivered in 2011.
|-----
| MBB Bo 105 || || Light helicopter || BO-105-S || 1 ||Operated by the police air wing as an Air Ambulance.
|-----
| CASA
CASA
- Aviation :* Civil Aviation Safety Authority - Australian statutory authority responsible for the regulation of Civil Aviation* Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA- Spanish aircraft manufacturer, became EADS CASA in 1999...
CN-235 ||
Spain || transporter || CN-235M || 3? |||-----
| Northrop F-5 Tiger II || || 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
Scottish Aviation Bulldog
|-See also:-External links:...
|| || trainer || Bulldog 103
Bulldog 127 || 3
2 || Since 1972, 5 built
13-14built
|-----
| Short Tucano
Short Tucano
|-See also:-External links:*...
|| || trainer || Tucano || 12 || Since 1990. 13 Deliverd. Some for C.O.I.N ops (counter insurgency aircraft)
|}
Anti-aircraft equipment:
- Rapier SAM batteries
- Mistral anti aircraft missilesMistral missileMistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile manufactured by the European multinational company MBDA missile systems . Based on the French SATCP , the portable missile later to become the Mistral began development in 1974...
- Bofors 40 mm
- ZPU-4ZPU-4The ZPU-4 is a towed, quadruple-barreled anti-aircraft gun based on the Soviet KPV 14.5 mm machine gun. It entered service with the Soviet Union in 1949 and is used by over 50 countries worldwide...
Missiles
- 72x AIM-9J SidewinderAIM-9 SidewinderThe AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. The missile entered service with United States Air Force in the early 1950s, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces...
air to air missile - 72x AGM-65A MaverickAGM-65 MaverickThe AGM-65 Maverick is an air-to-ground tactical missile designed for close-air support. It is effective against a wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, ground transportation and fuel storage facilities....
- 2,100x BGM-71C Improved TOWBGM-71 TOWThe BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
for MD 500 HelicoptersMD Helicopters MD 500The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
In addition to the Air Force, the police air wing operates 11 aircraft (including 3 Bell 206
Bell 206
The Bell 206 is a family of two-bladed, single- or twin-engine helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter at its Mirabel, Quebec plant. Originally developed as the Bell YOH-4 for the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program, the 206 failed to be selected...
L Long Ranger , 3 Bell 212 , 4 Mil Mi-17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
Hip \
Former fleet:
- BAC 167 Strikemaster fighters (in operation since 1971) (sold to BotswanaBotswana Defence Force Air WingThe Botswana Defence Force Air Wing is the air arm of the Botswana Defence Force of the country of Botswana in southern Africa.-Overview:The Air Wing was formed in 1977 and is organisationally part of the Botswana Defence Force....
1993-94) -6 Delivered - BAE Hawk 52BAE HawkThe BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
(in operation since 1980, 8 or more built) -12 Delivered - Hawker HunterHawker HunterThe Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
fighters (bought from RAF, in operation 1974-79) -6 Deliveerd - De Havilland Canada DHC-1 ChipmunkDe Havilland Canada DHC-1 ChipmunkThe de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
trainers (in operation 1964-74)
Canada - De Havilland Canada DHC-2 BeaverDe Havilland Canada DHC-2 BeaverThe de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver is a single-engined, high-wing, propeller-driven, STOL aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada, primarily known as a bush plane. It is used for cargo and passenger hauling, aerial application , and has been widely adopted by armed forces as a utility aircraft...
bush planes (in operation 1964-83) Canada - De Havilland Canada DHC-4 CaribouDe Havilland Canada DHC-4 CaribouThe de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou is a Canadian-designed and produced specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing capability...
transport (in operation 1966-87) Canada - Dornier Do 28DDornier Do 28The Dornier Do 28 Skyservant is a twin-engine STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier Flugzeugbau GmbH. It served with the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger and other air forces around the world in the communications and utility role....
utility, (in operation since 1977, 4 or more built) -8 Delivered.
History
The Kenya Air Force was formed on 1 June 1964, soon after independence, with the assistance of the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
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.
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).
On April 10, 2006 a KAF Harbin Y-12
Harbin Y-12
-See also:-Bibliography:* Taylor, John W R. . Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group, 1988. ISBN 07106-0867-5....
crashed near Marsabit
Marsabit
Marsabit is a town in northern Kenya, located 170 km east of the center of the East African Rift at 37°58' E, 2°19' N . It is located in the Eastern Province and is almost surrounded by the Marsabit National Park and Reserve...
with 17 on board, of whom 14 died. It was carrying several local and national politicians; Bonaya Godana
Bonaya Godana
Bonaya Adhi Godana was the foreign minister of Kenya from January 1998 until 2001....
, 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.
Commanders
The following officers have been in command of the Kenya Air Force:- 12 December 1964 Group CaptainGroup CaptainGroup captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
I S Stockwell CBE DFC RAF - 22 February 1967 Group Captain F Rothwell DFC TD RAF
- 9 August 1971 Group Captain David John Edwards CBE AFC RAF
- 17 April 1973 ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Dedan Gichuru - 27 June 1980 Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
P M Kariuki - 1982 Major General Mohamoud Mohamed (as commander of the 82 Air Force)
- 27 February 1986 Major General Dedan N Gichuru (as commander of the 82 Air Force)
- 10 May 1989 Major General D K Wachira
- 28 June 1994 Major General N L Leshan
- 1 December 2000 Major General S K Muttai
- 27 November 2003 Major General J W Karangi
- 10 August 2005 Major General Harold M Tangai
External links
- Kenya Air Force - official website
- The EastAfricanThe EastAfricanThe EastAfrican is a weekly newspaper published in Kenya by the Nation Media Group, which also publishes Kenya's national Daily Nation. The EastAfrican is circulated in Kenya and the other countries of East Africa including Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda...
, June 19, 2006: Kenyatta, Kissinger and the fighter jets - http://www.worldairforces.com/Countries/kenya/ken.html
- http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ke%5Eaf.html
- http://aviation-safety.net/database/operator/airline.php?var=5882