Topic: Kenya repulses Al Shabaab with aerial firepower

Updated Friday, June 15 2012

By JUMA KWAYERA

Even though Kenya gives the impression that its military adventure in Somalia was precipitated by increased incidents of kidnapping of tourists, a look at how it has waged the campaign against the Somali militia group suggests a carefully and meticulously executed plan.

And to the surprise of many Kenyans, the country is rated as one of the best equipped in Africa, only surpassed by South Africa – and maybe Nigeria.

But the air force is ranked among the best equipped in the developing world, what with the acquisition of the latest Russian-made helicopter model being used in Somalia.

According to military Intelligence and Defence News magazine, Kenya has modernised its forces, which makes it the most modern in the region, hence the efficiency with which it has repulsed Al Shabaab without incurring heavy losses compared with the other troops deployed for the same purpose.

Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Burundi, without aerial firepower, have largely fought a classical warfare, with ground forces anchoring the onslaught.

In the process Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) and Burundi, without a single fighter jet have jointly lost over 2,500 troops for the time they have been in Somalia, because the Al Shabaab forced them to fight a guerrilla war.

Kenya Defence Force (KDF) has lost 12 – five in direct combat and seven to accidents.

In a series of articles published in Intelligence and Defence News, military defence expert David Goldman says, “Kenya army’s 50-Air Calvary Division (ACB) has acquired the much dreaded ground attack helicopters from Russia. The 50-ACB obtained about 16 units of the dreaded ground attack MI-28 attack helicopters after the success of the unit in Somalia operation.”

The helicopters were acquired at the end of last year and used to ‘soften’ the militia fighters, especially smoking them out of their hideouts.

Training pilots Mr Goldman says the Air Calvary has been instrumental in weakening Al Shabaab and rescuing ground forces under attack besides carrying out precise attacks on enemy troops. The Government ordred for more last year.

Russian and Kenyan experts are said to be assembling the MI-28 helicopters as pilots are trained on how to fly and engage enemies with the lethal attack helicopter.

The MI-28 is codenamed ‘Havoc’ by Nato owing to its versatility– an all-weather day-night military tandem two-seat anti-armour attack helicopter.

The commonest armament among the MI-28s is a pair of 8 Ataka missile racks along with 2 B-13L rocket pods, each able to carry 5 S-13 rockets.

Other rocket options include two B-8 rocket pods, each able to carry up to 20 S-8 rockets.

The 30 mm chain gun is a staple amongst all MI-28 combat loads.

According to defense analysts Kenya defence forces are currently testing four units of the Hokum, Ka-50 gunship helicopter dreaded for its speed and precisions.

Nato says the intimidating, highly versatile and fast Kamov Ka-50 ‘Black Shark’ or ‘Hokum A’ is a deadly support attack helicopter.

KDF has acquired 16 units of the gunship helicopter that were commissioned for use at Laikipia Airbase, Kenya’s largest air base in February this year after their successful delivery.

In addition the Hokum gunship helicopters, Intelligence and Defence News reports that KDF also acquired fighter jets from France last October, just before Kenya deployed troops in southern Somalia.

Long tym since i was in jf,naona kuna forum ya wakenya,nway glad 2 be back.

Eiish, my bruda! You have chokozaad the bees now. The see-hear-no evil-speak all-evil crowd from TZ will emerge from the woodworks.

You are referring to this Standard Newspaper report, no doubt; there are few inaccuracies but generally it is a factual representation of the Military issues contained.

http://standardmedia.co.ke/?articleI...rial-firepower

Am not from Tz but i see that as nothing to gloat about, i don't think Kenya is the third best equipped country in the continent and i wish the boys finish what they went to Somalia to do, my taxes are better spent in uplifting my living standard chest-thumping on what rank we are in military hardware.

You sound educated enough to be able to discern the juxta-positioning of Kenya's economic and security interests, which are superimposed, symbiotic and inseparable. And if you live in the home country, surely you must have some chronology of developments that impelled OLN, and a clear view of the socio-economic imperatives of a pacified and vibrant Southern Somalia to not just Kenya but also of GoSS, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwandaurundi and the DRC.

kenya the sleeping giant has awoken all run for cover

By Dhuks

Am not from Tz but i see that as nothing to gloat about, i don't think Kenya is the third best equipped country in the continent and i wish the boys finish what they went to Somalia to do, my taxes are better spent in uplifting my living standard chest-thumping on what rank we are in military hardware.

What if the boys return home and Alshabaab multiply.....Have you been living in EA. you remember the Ethiopian incursion and now recently AMISOM from 2008. Instead of hardening AS, its better it disappers from the scene. All contries that seek to assert their economic interests and postion will use such statisctics and that is not gloating. All these juxta-positioning on harware acquisition is just to assert regional pre-eminence. nothing wrong with it

After they rid Somalia off Alshaabab they should return home but stay in barracks close to the border.

Ask USA why not again going to Somalia.... In 1997 US soldiers brutally killed & dragged around the streets & photographed to show the world.... Al- Shabaab they are no ONE TO COMPARE.... u can chase them & disappear for few months then they come strongly attacking u even not aware & not prepared.... Mombassa must watch out....

the dragged/slain soldiers or otherwise aint worth spectating about (alshabaab and her sympathisers are a crazy lot). Kabaridi, i got to the previous post alil too late but they aint KDF soldiers. The military fatigue otherwise known as DPM as KSHAKA stipulated aint Kenyan. A thread on KDFs arrival is within this forum, any doubting thomases can compare the fatigues of KDF with the slain amison fatigue (probably burundi). The toughest battle KDF has endured was at hosingow. Just after capturing the town a large column of KDF personelle embarked on a march to Afmadhow forming a snake column. A lean potent force was left behind to guard the town and alshabaab in their thousands regrouped assuming KDF has left a weaker vulnerable force. In words of KDF commander, sector II, ''for once alshabaab couldnt pick up their own'' refering to intensity of the fight....in that encounter no KDF soldier fell and at the wake of the aftermath, (six hour battle), more than 200 alshabaab men lay dead. Now how would such a force leave her own against a rag tag outfit? Not a chance.

I am ever glad that AS have no potent force with 200 men laid to waste at Hosing-ow in one engagement. I can see the subordination stunt to put KDF as bystanders in Somalia is not convincing at all. I am also impressed that Kisimayu was the main price that was overlooked by other players in the theater. So forces are finding Mogadishu unbearable and racing past all sectors to kisimayu thinking it is a walk in the park. I am of the Idea that they do not mind trading sectors. They take kisimayu and relinquish Mogadishu. ....... and the whole OLN and the Somalia problem will be solved with finality. I know execution of LN has come as a shocker to many who did not expect any headway for return the return of normalcy (not a celebration however since I can smell the advertant ineptness deployed in operations by some allied forces.

By Mr. President

Ask USA why not again going to Somalia.... In 1997 US soldiers brutally killed & dragged around the streets & photographed to show the world.... Al- Shabaab they are no ONE TO COMPARE.... u can chase them & disappear for few months then they come strongly attacking u even not aware & not prepared.... Mombassa must watch out....

So in your opinion what should be done so that people will not be dragged on the streets?

By Dhuks

So in your opinion what should be done so that people will not be dragged on the streets?

a sick person posted photos of dead burundi soldiers in daynile near mogadishu and tried to pas them as kenyans in a very poor propaganda strategy. a quick glance at those photos its enough to know they are recycled. what befell these burundians is very unfortunate a poor military strategy. they had attacked al shabab and advanced deep inside enemy lines being flanked by TFG somali soldiers but after wrongly believing the shabab were defeated the TFG withdrew without covering the burundians hence leaving them exposed the al shabab then attacked in a swift counter trapping the poor burundians and cutting them down with intense fire swiftly many were caught unawares by this sudden counter attack and thats how they ended up in these photos being displayed by that nyangau zomba in the locked thread. this will NEVER HAPPEN TO KDF. not that al shabab havent tried to capture KDF but it has been death upon them not a single kenyan soldier has been captured by these criminials and sick guys hoping for that will die waiting

What surprised me more was the jubilation by Tanzania posters, they think Kenyans have gone to Somalia to profit, how i just wish they can get half the misery the instability in Somalia has inflicted on us just to wake them up

By Dhuks

What surprised me more was the jubilation by Tanzania posters, they think Kenyans have gone to Somalia to profit, how i just wish they can get half the misery the instability in Somalia has inflicted on us just to wake them up

brother i was also shocked by the show of jubilitation. is this how much watz hated kenya to even cook up stories and fantasize on death iasked myself. but i can assure you not all wabongo hate kenya there are some who love it especially gentlemen of CCM and many ladies. only criminals and hooligans can hate a fellow jirani that much. what kenya is doing and in extension uganda burundi is vital for security in EAC but kuna some few retards who are terrorist sympathisers and they are known. i wont be surprised they were being monitored by anti terrorism agents