Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national aerial warfare service of the Republic of Kenya. It was founded on 1st June, 1964 immediately after independence and has been a force to reckon with in the aerial security and defending of the Republic of Kenya.
The Kenya Air Force has provided air support for land missions and has been called upon to help in disaster mitigations especially evacuations and supply.
The Kenya Air Force is tasked with maintaining the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces’ aerial transport commonly known as the Air Force 1.
Kenya Air Force has a very impressive fleet of aircrafts. They range from fighter jets, helicopters, utility and surveillance aircrafts. The total number of aircrafts in the Kenya Air Force inventory is 127 that are comprised of both rotary-wing and the fixed-wing aircrafts.
The aircrafts in the Kenya Air Force Inventory are mainly divided into four major categories; combat, reconnaissance, helicopters and trainer aircrafts.
17 Combat aircrafts- fighter
- Northrop F -5 which is a high speed all-weather fighter jet
19 Reconnaissance aircrafts- patrol and utility
- Cessna208 and Harbin Y -12 – used for surveillance and patrol
- Dash 8, DHC-5 – transport and utility
64 Helicopters- transport and utility
- SA330 Puma
- MD 500
- Mil MI- 171
27 Trainer Aircrafts- training
- Bulldog T 1- basic trainer
- Short Tucano- general trainer
- Grob G 120- general trainer
- F -5- conversion trainer
In addition to having the aircrafts they are very well armored with both offensive and defensive equipment. They have anti-tank missiles, air-air missiles and air-surface missiles that they use for offensive combat operations. The aircrafts also have 40mm guns, surface to air missiles and ZPU-4 for as defensive equipment.
The Kenya Air Force is true to its motto ‘Tuko Imara Angani’ which translated in English means ‘We are Confident in the Sky’ as they have been credited with the famed KDF recapture of Kismayo. Their competence and dedication to service has seen them produce Kenya’s first ever Chief of Defence Gen Dr Julius Waweru Karangi.
Uganda has 4th Gen fighters in SU30s by dennis have you had any country asking the Russians why they sold them to a 3rd Gen country???
sometimes back boss you told us that kdf might have acquired f-15 are they not in the inventory?
supplying our boys with junk…no wonder theyre sitting ducks ..govt should focus on close air support aircraft and attack helicopters