Kenya Air Force - Modernization
In pursuant of its mandate, the Kenya Air Force has maintained a modernization program of its equipment in order to maintain a responsive and effective Air Force in a changing environment.
Formation of the strike squadron was announced in 1970, and it was soon equipped with six BAC-167 Strikemaster jets operating in a training and ground attack role. The KAF also took delivery of six reconditioned Hawker Hunter fighter-bombers from Britain, which constituted the force's main combat strength in the 1970s.
Kenya’s support for Israeli’s in the 1976 Entebe raid in Uganda enraged Idi Amin. Tension increased between Kenya and Uganda in the same year when President Amin claimed large chunk of Kenyan land. Uganda posed a security challenge to Kenya and an inter-state war seemed imminent. Kenya’s security agencies were put on high alert as Amin remained unpredictable. President Kenyatta addressed a rally at Uhuru Park, and said in relation to Uganda’s threat that “We Kenyans shall defend our country with all our blood and shall teach a lesson never to be forgotten to anyone who tries to play with our country and government.” Tension between the two countries remained high throughout that decade. Even though Uganda did not fight with Kenya, the actions of Amin made Kenya believe that war with Uganda remained a possibility. In reaction, the Air Force was enhanced with more modern F5 jet fighters and the Kenya Army was increased in numerical strength.
The air force re-equipment program began in 1976, when it was announced that the United States would sell Kenya a squadron of F-5E/F Tiger II supersonic fighter-bombers. Soviet arms transfers to Ethiopia lead Kenya to regard American arms and support as a necessary counterweight. Beginning with the delivery of F-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft to the Kenyan Air Force, the United States assumed a major role as a military supplier to Kenya.
The F-5s, which were equipped with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, were delivered in 1978, replacing the Hunters and improving the KAF's combat potential. Two F-5Es were lost in operational accidents by 1983, but two more F-5Fs were delivered in 1982, which allowed the force to pursue a more efficient training program for F-5 pilots. The KAF also took delivery of 12 BAC Hawk T-52s in 1980-81 to supplement and eventually replace the Strikemasters in the light strike and training roles.
Among the modernization programs carried out include the acquisition of De Havilland Caribou, the medium lift DHC-5D Buffalo twin-engine transport aircraft in 1977 to augment the DHC-4A Caribou transport aircraft; the acquisition of the Dash-8-100 (DHC-8) and the Tucano in 1990; the Fokker 70ER in 1995, the Domier Do 28D Skyservants and the Y-12 in 1997.
Rapid expansion of the Kenya Air Force occurred from 1976 due to acquisition of new equipment and aircraft. The Buffalo and the Dornier aircraft were acquired in 1977. The F5 fighter jets, the Puma and the Gazelle helicopters were introduced in 1978. The hawk fighter jets were introduced in 1979. These expansion program necessitated a high demand for pilots beyond the production capacity of the Flying Training School and hence ab-initio pilot training was sourced from the USA , France , India , Pakistan and Scotland between 1976 and 1981.
In addition to the aircraft modernisation program ground equipment and other weapon systems critical for mission fulfillment have being modernised. Air surveillance capability of the National Air Space was first attained in 1974 with the acquisition of long range Air Defence Radar systems which have been improved since then. In 1978, the Air Force acquired surface to Air misile capability with acquisition of SAMs fire units.
In the new century the current fleet of F-5s was deteriorating, and KDOD wanted to replace the fleet with the same aircraft the country has been operating for a number of years. The GOK first proposed purchase of 14 used F-5 aircraft from Saudi Arabia in 2004. The US Government experssed concerns surrounding the purchase, particularly inappropriateness of fighters in countering the primary threat (terrorism) that Kenya faces; possible corruption in the sale; the drain on Kenyan military budgets; and the opportunity costs likely to be incurred by the US in helping maintain them. Kenya would be better off investing the money in either reconnaissance or helicopter lift assets. The cost for this aircraft could reach as much as $31 million, according to local press reports.
Given the strategic importance of Kenya to the US war against international terrorism, Washington reportedly had offered to sell to the Air Force newer versions of the model in addition to regularly servicing them and training pilots and engineers.
In July 2008, it was reported that Kenya would spend 1.5 billion KSh to buy 15 former Jordanian Air Force F-5s, 13 F-5E and two F-5F upgraded with Rockwell Collins avionics[82] (plus training and spare parts).They will be added or eventually replace the current F-5 fleet.
In October 2010 the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee prepared to turn the spotlight on the Ministry of Defence over Air Force jets acquired from Jordan and whose airworthiness was in doubt. The Department of Defence would once again be called upon to respond to a stink following damning revelations the 15 fighter jets the Kenya Air-Force (KAF) acquired from Jordan in 2010 for Sh1.5 billion were substandard. The Jordanian jets were airlifted in parts then reassembled locally. It cost about Sh2 billion ($23 million) to buy and transport the craft from Jordan to Nairobi.
In 2011 the Parliament questioned the acquisition and delivery of second hand F-5 fighter jets from Jordan with claims that they failed take-off tests. The MPs were of the opinion that the tendering processes were fraudulent and taxpayers’ money was lost.
The Kenya Air Force acquired six Grob G120A basic trainers in 2013, becoming the first African air force to operate the type. The Kenyan G120s were observed practicing for the Jamhuri Day flypast on December 12, 2013. According to Grob, six aircraft have been delivered. The aircraft were handed over to the Kenyan military in November in Germany and subsequently flown to the African country after four Kenyan pilots were trained in Mattsies, Germany. The Kenya Air Force was flying around ten Scottish Aviation Bulldogs, 12 Embraer Tucanos and eight BAE Systems Hawks in the training role. It was likely that the Bulldogs would be replaced by the new German aircraft. According to Kenyan sources, the Kenya Air Force had another six G120s on option.
In June 2014 the Kenyan government unveiled plans to spend US$1 billion acquiring 10 new military helicopters, refurbishing three grounded Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters and the installation of 'Safe City' closed circuit (CCTV) surveillance cameras in 10 cities aspart of a strategic five-year national security plan to secure the country against terrorist attacks by Somali Islamist militant group Al Shabaab.
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