Kenya is due to receive its last two Huey IIs soon.
Citing IHS Jane’s, defenceWeb reported on July 3, 2017 that one Huey II was already out for delivery to the country, while another would soon follow suit. Once the two helicopters are delivered, Kenya’s order for eight will be complete.
The first batch, consisting of six helicopters, arrived in December 2016.
The helicopters will support Kenyan counterterrorism efforts. Moreover, the US Embassy noted in December, “These helicopters will be used to deliver much-needed supplies to the front-line and to help save the lives of troops with vital medical evacuations.”
The contract, worth $52.1 million, was announced in September 2016 for five Huey IIs, plus spares.
In early May, the U.S. State Department announced via the Defense Security Cooperation Agency that it had approved a possible sale of 12 MD 530F weaponized helicopters as well as associated armaments to Kenya, at an estimated cost of $253 million.
Kenya is also seemingly taking delivery of an unknown number of AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters. At least one was spotted in multiple images, reportedly at Laikipia air base. The origin of the helicopter is similarly unknown though suspected to be Jordan.
Unverified imagery indicates #Kenya procurement of AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter from unknown source pic.twitter.com/uSJUusM3h8— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) May 29, 2017
Military markets analyst, covering Eurasia, Middle East, and Africa.
