African Union Mission in Somalia has been spearheading the war against Al Shabaab. PHOTO FILE | NATION
Kenya and Uganda will in coming months receive advanced military
helicopters in an aircraft modernisation scheme to strengthen Amisom’s
onslaught against Al Shabaab in Somalia.
Uganda will
receive five Huey II helicopters from US supplier Bell by August in its
biggest acquisition since 2012, when it bought six Su-30MK fighter jets
from Russia at a cost of $179.6 million.
“We already
have one of the helicopters in Amsterdam en route to Kenya for delivery,
while the final order will follow soon after. We are also getting ready
to deliver five to Uganda as well. They should arrive in the third
quarter of this year,” Arnie Easterly, Bell Helicopters director for
sales and marketing in Africa said during the Paris Airshow two weeks
ago.
Last September, Bell Helicopters won the $87.6 million contract to supply Nairobi and Kampala with 13 helicopters and spares.
The
two countries expect to use the equipment to boost their operations in
Somalia, where they are fighting the Al Shabab militants under the
African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) command.
Kenya
received six of the Huey II helicopters in December last year, two last
month and an unknown number of AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters from
Jordan as part of its military partnership with Jordan, which saw its
leader, King Abdullah II, visit Nairobi in September last year.
King
Abdullah and President Uhuru Kenyatta, dressed in military fatigues,
then witnessed both the Royal Jordanian Armed Forces and KDF perform a
joint military exercise.
Kenya is also waiting to
confirm the timelines for delivery of a dozen MD 530F armed light
helicopters that it ordered in May, which has been approved by the US
Army Security Assistance Command.
The
aircraft, to be supplied by US-based MD Helicopters at a cost of $253
million include MD 530F “Cayuse Warrior” light attack helicopters, and
24 HMP machine gun pod systems, 24 M260 rocket launcher systems and
assorted ammunition.
Col Joseph Owuoth, Kenya Defence
Forces Spokesman, declined to comment on the delivery timelines and the
performance of the ordered aircraft.
According to the
United States Department of Defence’s foreign military sales contract
with Bell, the deliveries should completed by the end of this year.
The EastAfrican understands that the US Army Security Assistance Command has already sent Kenya a formal letter of offer and acceptance.
The
US Defence Security Co-operation Agency said the delivery would help
modernise the fleet in order to improve border security and undertake
operations against Al Shabaab militants.
Kenya, Uganda and Burundi contribute troops to Amisom.
“KDF
is looking at replacing its ageing fleet of the more than three dozen
MD 500 helicopters with the latest MD 530F. The ageing fleet is what
have been using to for reconnaissance to supporting our ground forces.
These new copters have a better range, faster cruise speed and manoeuvrability,” The EastAfrican was told.
In December, Kenya received the first batch of the order, which is funded under the Kenya-US military co-operation agreement.
“The
Huey II represent the US’s largest single security co-operation
initiative ever undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa,” US ambassador Robert
Godec said.
The Huey II helicopter is powered by a new
Honeywell T53-L-703 engine, which enables it to have an improved hover
performance in hot conditions, mirroring the joint forces; needs in
Somalia.
Flexibility
“The
Huey II is a daily workhorse with an large cabin providing multimission
flexibility. It seats up to 15, providing troop transport into high
altitudes, medical evacuation in hot conditions or transport to and from
remote bases,” Bell says of the helicopters.
In May,
Kenya’s military was ranked as Africa’s 11th most powerful force ahead
of its Ugandan and Tanzanian counterparts, despite the neighbouring
countries’ bigger personnel count.
Global Firepower,
an agency that assesses the military strength of nations, ranked Kenya
as the most powerful nation in the region based on its manpower, range
of weaponry, logistical flexibility and budgets.
“Going
beyond military equipment totals and perceived fighting strength, is
the actual manpower that drives a given military. Wars of attrition
favour those with more,” the study said.
The rankings
show that Kenya’s has an arms stockpile of 76 battle tanks, 591 armoured
fighting vehicles, 30 self-propelled guns, 25 towed artillery, 131
aircraft, 17 fighter jets and 61 helicopters.
Uganda’s
weapons stock comprises 240 tanks, 43 aircraft, 1,060 armoured fighting
vehicles and 26 multiple-launch rocket systems, which both Kenya and
Tanzania currently lack.
Dar es Salaams’ arsenal includes 30 tanks, 150 armoured fighting vehicles and 30 aircraft.
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