₦airaland Forum

patches689:
***OFF TOPIC***

Funny take on how the Bradley IFV was developed

I highly recommend it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXQ2lO3ieBA

Ha! Too funny!!!!!
I usually download videos and watch them later... I watched it this morning..I have never laughed so hard ! By the time I was done watching I had caught a flu my eyes teary and my head just behind my ears felt like was about to pop (does that happen to everyone when you laugh constantly for long or is it just me?) from too much laughter...
Is this like an old tv show ? I would like to get the rest of it.. OMG!

Kenya Army 20th parachute battalion

ActivateKruger:
Very bad CAD skills

hahaha, I doubt it was drawn on a computer, that one was done by hand...
But everyone has to become from somewhere right, if they keep it up in 10-15years they may have a decent industry... I see the potential

pic 1-2 -Special Police FFU

JWTZ

Tanzania

-Last pic made in Tz truck

Uganda

GreenandGold:
That's very Hollywood dope

With the explosive combination of activists and Internet trolls that are always on stand by to lurch on any government project that smells funny(corruption), It better be of the hollywood-ish type ...

Initial cost was $165Milion --So far 3080 cameras installed, a 4G network spectrum exclusive for police network linked to police station, and some 4G-enabled handheld radios that can relay real-time images for analysis(although I am yet to see any police hold one)

I hope they will start hiring trained civilians and stop using relagating some police officers to desk jobs that they din't imagine doing while they were training to be policemen/women

Command & Control Center -Nairobi


Functions include -- monitor public spaces, handle incoming emergency calls, and to mobilize the required support resources to handle security issues.

It is equiped with a:
Dispatching Centre (DC) -to mobilise police resources to respond
Data Center - to store and/or process large amount of data
Video Management System for processing video streams,
A face recognition system and an Automatic Number Plate Recognition system --- so far the PRC has led to the recovery of 1,200 stolen vehicles.

This turkish company has some dope CAD engineers .. I don't care if it even moves I want this in my backyard, just to look at it every morning

US command International hall of fame

In Kenya University of Nairobi with help from University of Rome developed a nano satelite to be launched in 2018 from Japanese space station..
Its main goal will be for research and as a precursor to Kenya's entry to space technology

It's called 1KUNS - 1st Kenyan University NanoSatellite Precursor Flight, and it's the first proposal for a small satellite developed by an African country, Kenya, selected by the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to benefit from the opportunity to be launched by the Japanese “Kibo” module in the International Space Station (ISS), as part of the “KiboCube” program (click here).

1KUNS, an extension of “IKUNS - Italian-Kenyan University NanoSatellite”, is a project run by the University of Nairobi in collaboration with “La Sapienza” University of Rome and the Italian Space Agency, and is part of the projects initiated in 2015 between ASI and “La Sapienza” under the Convention for managing activities at the Broglio Space Centre in Malindi (Kenya). IKUNS will involve developing a cubesat for Earth Observation and technological testing.
http://www.asi.it/en/news/1kuns-first-kenyan-cubesat

Kenya government is advancing plan for space research technology and setting up of necessary legislation through parliament for the establishment of a space Center capable of designing and launching satellites, so that by the time it becomes operational, there wont be any geopolitics problems that arise with the UN or major powers, Currently space research is led by a small team in a small department at the Kenya ministry of Defence, but once the plan is done, the Kenya space Agency will become a fully fledged independent institution although it will still be led by MoD scientist (atleast at first) and its first budget will be 100Million dollars for research and Development..

$1 =100 Ksh

Kenya to launch space centre
June-27^th-2015
The country is in the final stages of establishing a space centre, the equivalent of National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) agency, a project that will propel Kenya to the elite club of a few countries in the world that own earth observation satellites. The space centre that is projected to cost to the tune of Sh10 billion for a constellation of earth observation satellites is expected to boost the country's security as well as provide solutions in the agriculture, education and medical sectors. Experts, military and government officials who are spearheading the National Space Policy, Strategy and Space Agency Order have told the Standard that proposals on establishment of a Space centre will be included in the cabinet docket before the end of June. The project is being spearheaded by the Office of the Deputy President and Ministry of Defence with[b] Dr John Kimani (the lead Scientist at the Ministry of Defence), Prof Paul Baki and Prof Hunja Waithaka as the lead scientists.[/b] "This is a major breakthrough for the country in our efforts to ensure that we become a country with a space centre," Dr John Kimani, the lead Scientist at the Ministry of Defence said. If established, the centre will end over three decades wait for a national space policy and strategy since the country opened discussions of establishing a Space Centre in the year 1983. It will also have Kenya transition from a passive user of space and space technologies to a contributor to the development of space technology.
According to scientists, the country is strategically located at a point where it will exhaust the space project for massive economic growth and creation of jobs. "Kenya's strategic outer space includes the geographic location along the equator and bordering the Indian Ocean to its East that facilitates ease of landing of space crafts, tracking of space crafts in space, and ease of access to equatorial orbits, and in particular the geostationary orbit," the Policy order reads. Lilian Abishai, a senior Counsel at the Office of the Attorney General, said that all the necessary legal instruments are being prepared so that the space centre will conform to both local laws and international conventions and treaties. "An Order has been established through which the Space Agency will succeed the National Space Secretariat that is currently under the Ministry of Defence, "she said. Kenya is developing a space centre in its efforts to develop viable home grown space industry and enhance coordination of space related activities by establishing linkages among government agencies and institutions, industry and researchers. The country is expected to spend dozens of billions of shillings if the project is expected to be realized. "It's an expensive industry. You don't put money today and expect results tomorrow," Prof Waithaka told the Standard. Prof Waithaka estimates that a single earth observation satellite will cost about Sh3 billion together with its support systems. Prof O.L.E Mbuthia, a policy expert at the University of Nairobi, says that the costs might look astronomical for the common man but they are a necessity for a country that wants to develop. "People will ask why spend a lot of money in space while little has been done on the ground. They have to be told that scientists have to advance knowledge and this has no limit," Prof Mbuthia says. If the project is realised, the scientists have promised a change of fortunes for the country. " Through space science we can be able to monitor projects like the one million acre Galana project and scientifically establish sections that need watering, track cattle rustlers, train people in remote areas through tele-education and even have doctors pass medical opinions and offer treatment through telemedicine," says Dr Kimani. ......MP Wilberforce Otchillo who was involved in the initial plan for the drafting of a national space policy and strategy said that parliament has already all the motions required for the establishment of the space centre. In 2011, a motion by the Otchillo on motion urging the country to develop a space agency received overwhelming support in parliament.
Read more at: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000167230/kenya-to-launch-space-centre

Nowenuse:
Yes, during the harmattans (December-February), temperature drops terribly and especially in the northern parts, temperatures go as low as 1 digit (3-9°) in most northern states (mostly during the nights and mornings).

Does Nairobi get as cold as that?

Nairobi coldest season usuall gets low to 16-18 degrees.... Worst case is 14 and a very case of 12....

But in the greater highlands not that far from Nairobi, that's another case, we used to live in one of those places, we had to store water in tanks early in advance, during winter, piped water used to freeze in the pipes , sometimes it used to get minus 4, if you put a metal cup filled with water outside, the water would freeze after an hour or less..

Most recent case has been a situation where it rained hailstorm but the ice did not melt , it ended up looking like snow (from a far) the recorded temperature was 3.6 Celsius

kikuyu1:
Exactly which 2 hulls are those,Fidha254?

KNS Nyayo(P3126) and KNS Umoja. In 2011 they underwent a complete upgrade in Italy,I don't know exatcly what was added but the main guns look new in pic one, and look like some aditional radras were added..

Here is a story of the two vessels meeting with British navy while they were on their way to Kenya from Italy

Monmouth conducts PASSEX with Kenyan Naval Vessels


Whilst on counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, HMS Monmouth, ‘The Black Duke’, rendezvoused with two newly refitted Kenyan patrol vessels. KNS NYAYO and KNS UMOJA are returning to their homeport after undergoing refit in Italy.
In challenging weather conditions, the Kenyan warships conducted a set of Officer of the Watch manoeuvres with the Black Duke. The patrol vessels, which can reach 40 knots, demonstrated great agility when manoeuvering in close-quarters with Monmouth.

The Black Duke broke off from the formation to launch her Lynx Mk8 helicopter and then returned to the Kenyan warships scything between the two in perfect formation for the Lynx to take photographs.

An information sharing exercise also provided an ideal opportunity to enhance maritime situational awareness. This is a key factor in the Maritime Security Operation (MSO) Kenya will be conducting in co-operation with Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

After a few hours together, the Kenyans continued on to their homeport of Mombassa whilst Monmouth continued with her operational tasking, working with other nations to counter terrorism, prevent smuggling and disrupt and deter piracy.


Image by LA(Phot) Suart Hill / MOD - Crown Copyright

The Commanding Officer of HMS Monmouth, Commander Dean Bassett Royal Navy said: “This was an excellent opportunity to exercise at sea with the Kenyan Navy and a great example of the increasing cooperation and enduring relationship we have with an important partner in the region.

“I was most impressed with the professionalism and skills of the Kenyan sailors and look forward to working with them on future operations,” he added.

The exercise showed good interaction between Kenya and CMF and their determination to fight piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean.

HMS Monmouth is currently working as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, one of three task forces operated by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a 25-nation coalition based in Bahrain.

Read the rest here https://combinedmaritimeforces.com/2011/08/13/monmouth-conducts-passex-with-kenyan-naval-vessels/

Pic 2 HMS Monmouth and KNS Umoja and NYAYO

Fidha254:
How did you even end up on that site that has free copy of the same thing sold at 400Euros... I had to use google translator ...
If anyone has the time, if you manage to download, could you please upload it on your googledrive or onedrive and share it so we can download it later when we have free Internet.

Here I was concerned about my bundles, It took about 25 seconds to download and ate 30MBs of mine for a 150MB document.. I always thought you loose relatively the same amount of bundles that you download... My service provider must be of high on Easter spirit-Hunting bunny eggs

It takes a few hours to clear goods at the port in kenya once they arrive, sometime the port official board the ships high in the seas and start inspecting cargo, by the time the ship docs half the goods already cleared.....
Kenya is also tech friendly to tech companies... Most of them end up setting their africa HQ in kenya, from IBM, Google, Nokia research lab, Oracle,Qualcom....
Its not just infinix... Even techno and sumsung usually do the same..

Microsof too is following the same trend http://m.fin24.com/fin24/Tech/News/Microsoft-CEO-in-Africa-for-Windows-10-launch-20150729

1-Kenya Navy in Lamu
2,3 -Kenya navy CDU
4 -Kenya army having a moment with Kids in Kuday,Somalia

Kenya police Mi-17 In the coastal city of Mombasa

Henry240:
Regular Nigerian Infantry in Gambia with an updated gun-truck

The last guy on that contruction borad is like, "I was here!" nice pics, cool, clean, composed, did I say cool ?

chkil0:
here direct link to download : http://uploadboy.com/f5u9acsgvprp/1044/pdf

clic on free slow Download then captcha , create link download , download

the pdf is 575 page, (155 megaBit) , with most wolrd and african armies

Athousand thanks

.

chkil0:
same magazine about south african army , The Military Balance 2017 magazine page 534 , 535 , 536 , 537




to download the magazine : http://mirknig.su/knigi/military_history/131311-the-military-balance-2017.html

How did you even end up on that site that has free copy of the same thing sold at 400Euros... I had to use google translator ...
If anyone has the time, if you manage to download, could you please upload it on your googledrive or onedrive and share it so we can download it later when we have free Internet. that site . Lets just say I've not been successful.

end

.

When Tanzania JWTZ conducted amphibious landing capability demonstration

frumentius:
That's just common sense. Why would any sovereign country outsource its procurement to another govt's officials? When I first read of Kenya's Air Tractor deal, I thought you guys were getting them for free. Simply because everything seemed to have been decided by the US.
Be that as it may, some Kenyan officials were in on it. Is there going to be a proper investigation on your side?

We have always procured through the US DoD FMS department a sopposed to Direct commercial sales from the contractor.. its not a strange thing,its quite common actually, we do our small research, we give them specification of what we want, or we describe what we want then they give us recommendation or a range of choices then we go and test which one we like , then the US DoD or through state department , calls an open tender to US companies that supply such, then they forward a summary of each of the contractors price range, ETD(delivery), packages and price range, privately to Kenya DoD, then kenya DoD makes a negotiation for discount , then the state department announces the winner of the tender, that is how it has happened before... ( there is a certain local article which explained the whole process, I'm trying to look for it)

The advantage with doing it that way is that sometimes if Kenya cant afford something ,US DoD adds some money into it as part of Foregn Military aid... If you look at the foreign military sale document when the US gave us 8 Huey II worth $100M (initially it was to supply 5 for $56M but ended up with , On the contract, it looked like we were buying, only to later realized it was aid fully paid and delivered by pentgon....
Even with the MQ-9 drones, we ordered but in addition to what we paid for, 3 were supplied as aid....

Also, an important point I almost forgot through the US DoD FMS program, you can deposit cash in some kind of trust fund if you don't have all the money upfront, you can pay the money in installments after taking delivery of something, the the Us military will pay the US contractor with its own money and wait for the other country to pay over time..

As you might guess Kenya doesn't really have the financial muscle to spend big money on defense, especially of a single project.. I mean we could cough up the money from somewhere, but the idea wouldn't sell to most Kenyans..Even spending money on mega infrastructure still doesnt sell, people are like "I want food on my table, I don't care about some new highway"

Since Kenyatta came to power the DoD has been getting an additional $200M on its budget , designated as for "mordernisation Program' but we've still been stuck not knowing fighter jet to go for,, there was interest in f-16, gripen, there was some Chinese visit, the navy too had its own modernization program but so far the only thing i've heard is purchase of a bridge simulator..


-----
Apologies for the long reply

MikeCZA:
Remember reading some "expat's" experience flying these with some middle east military it was negative.

Blo..ody flying c...offin doesn't even have ejection seats.

What experts are those, from where the countries that already have them are making new orders... They come with additional bolted amour around the cockpit, plus the bulletproof windshield....

Why would you need ejection seats anyway, at that speed and the way the windows/doors are build, you can just pull your safety belt roll over and you out of the plane, Like a gangster!!!!

besides, in our situation, Alshabaab doesn't poses much of an aerial threat, most of their AA guns they used to posses were taken out by our f-5s during the initial campaign............. look at our MD-500s, they are much slower,and they dont offer any kind of protection for the pilot, have you ever heard any of them bieng taken out by alshabaab

Last article, It seems Kenya might be looking to buy the same from UAE at a more affordable price range, KAF officials and pilots have already visited UAE to check out the archangels, most likely we will might end up buying 2nd hand that have been used for atleast 12 Months (thats my thinking anyway)....
But I have read a comment on a US defense forum where one guy said L-3 technology is now willing to reduce the price for the same on the Kenya deal, And from the article below, the have added additional components and weapons package for the same deal (like how now? they are not even ashamed of guilt they were raping us in broad daylight!!!!n Now they are back with Vaseline )

SUNDAY APRIL 2 2017
The Kenyan government is now facing a decision on how — or whether — to proceed with its intention to buy a dozen armed crop-duster aircraft and related items from US contractors.

There is no deadline for Kenya's choice. It can accept the terms of an official offer made on Wednesday by New York-based L3 Technologies, or it can seek to negotiate better terms, or it can refuse to make any deal with L3.

The price and components of the weapons package now on offer from L3 have not been disclosed.

Neither the company nor the US government, which oversees arms deals in accordance with the Foreign Military Sales programme, has responded to Sunday Nation requests for release of that information.

The proposed Kenya-L3 deal carried a State Department-approved price tag of $418 million (Sh41bn) when it was outlined in January.
Sources say it is possible that L3 has lowered its price in response to criticisms by some members of the US Congress.
L3 may also be offering to include additional components in the package that were not included in the January outline.
Another military contractor, IOMAX USA, meanwhile indicated on Friday that it can provide Kenya with what it says is superior equipment at a total cost of $237 million (Sh23bn) — $181 million less than L3's January offer.
Congressman Ted Budd, a vocal critic of the Kenya-L3 deal, says L3 does not even manufacture the type of aircraft Kenya is interested in purchasing for use in Somalia against Al-Shabaab.

READ: Kenya, US arms deal at risk

READ: 3 Congressmen defend Kenya-US arms deal

And Mr Budd pointed out in a speech on Wednesday in the US House of Representatives that US government officials did not consider IOMAX as a potential supplier....

DELIVERY PERIOD
IOMAX, which is headquartered in Mr Budd's district in North Carolina, is the sole manufacturer of those planes, the Republican lawmaker said. Mr Budd noted that 50 IOMAX Archangel aircraft are in service in combat zones in the Middle East where they “have dropped more than 4000 bombs on ISIS”.

Kenyan officials are understood to have traveled last week to the United Arab Emirates to conduct a first-hand evaluation of the Archangel aircraft that IOMAX has sold to the UAE.

During the visit, a Kenyan Air Force commander personally flew an Archangel to test its capabilities.

Kenya has the option of buying a dozen Archangels from the UAE at what a source described as an unspecified “discount” price.

Alternately, Nairobi could purchase new Archangels directly from IOMAX.
Under either of those scenarios, Kenya would take delivery of the aircraft in six months or less, IOMAX officials say.
It would take L3 two years to fulfill its sale because the New York company has not built the planes, according to IOMAX.
Kenyan officials in Washington and Nairobi have not responded to requests for comments on the L3 and IOMAX offers.
http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Govt-dithers-about-purchase-of-aircrafts-from-US-firm/1056-3874748-7egqt5z/

Anyway, I hope we will later come to learn that the L-3 deal with Kenya included alote of guided amunition, Missiles, among other tings that L-3 already makes .

2nd last article I will post

http://www.nation.co.ke/news/secretive-unit-behind-kenya-arms-deal-congressman-says/1056-3871522-m6rggcz/
By KEVIN J. KELLEY
More by this Author
New York
Political favouritism involving a “secretive” unit within the United States Air Force known as Big Safari drove Kenya’s pending $418 million (about Sh42 billion) arms purchase from a United States (US) military contractor, Congressman Ted Budd has said.

Mr Budd, who has been fighting the proposed deal between Kenya and New York-based L3 Technologies for several weeks, launched his latest attack in a speech to the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The Republican lawmaker from the state of North Carolina said a powerful “political class” in Washington enriches itself through insider dealings such as the Kenya-L3 arrangement.

Mr Budd noted, without specifically naming the company, that L3 has tentatively been awarded the contract to produce “12 airplanes that are essentially armed crop dusters.”

Kenya would also acquire two training planes and related components and services as part of the $418 million purchase. The weapons are to be used in Kenya’s war in Somalia against al-Shabaab.

“There’s only one slight problem with the deal — the defence contractor chosen to fulfil the sale doesn’t make this type of planes,” Congressman Budd said. “They’ve never done it before. In fact, there’s an extra $130 million built into this deal for them to design a whole new airplane.”

Iomax USA, a firm based in his own district, is the sole manufacturer of the kind of planes Kenya is seeking to obtain, Mr Budd said.

‘SEVEN YEARS’

“They’ve been doing it for seven years,” he said in regard to Iomax. “They’ve got 50 of them in service around the Middle East. Their planes have dropped more than 4,000 bombs on Isis.”

But Iomax was not even considered for the Kenya deal, Mr Budd continued. “Nobody got a chance to bid. Nobody knew about it except the company that got it, and the bureaucrats involved.”

“You know the right people, have the right lobbyists, you get awards like this from the federal government without competition. Doesn’t matter if you don’t even make the product — they’ll give you some extra money to design it from scratch,” he said.

Mr Budd cited the Big Safari acquisition unit within the US Air Force as the key entity behind the proposed deal.

Describing Big Safari as “secretive,” the congressman said he had put 19 questions about the Kenya contract to officials in the Air Force unit but got answers to only four of them.

Excluded from this sort of cosy relationship are working-class Americans such as Iomax employees, Mr Budd added. In the Kenya case, they were up against “a $13 billion defence contractor and a $4 trillion federal government that appears to have forgotten impartiality,” he said.

frumentius:
That's the problem with the Kenya deal. They thought they were getting the Archangel. Instead L-3 Communications was awarded a no-bid contract for a plane they don't even make, at double the price Iomax would've charged. The whole thing stinks.

Even after the Kenyan deal, Egypt almost ended up in the same situation, IOMAX had to proactively get in touch the Egypts DoD before USAF awarded the contract 'again' to L-3.... IOMAX was tired of sitting and waiting to be contacted by USAF... it seems there is network mafia in the US arms deal network, they have infiltraded state department, DoD, Congress together with the Big defence contractors, they do insider trading ans ward tenderes to themselves with kickcaks exchanging hands...... If anyone want to buy US arms, advice is first go to the manufacture, then after you are satisfied is when you get in touch with the state department DSCA or whoever, with a reference from the manufacturer so that they don't reap you off

23 February 2017
IOMAX has held high-level talks with the Egyptian Ministry of Defence (MoD) to safeguard an expected sale of armed turboprop aircraft from being poached by its Air Tractor and L3 Technologies competitors, a company official told Jane's.

The North Carolina-based IOMAX has for some months been negotiating with the Egyptian MoD to support and upgrade 12 AT-802s that have been gifted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at the same time as looking to sell the country 10 of its latest Archangel Block 2 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA). However, emergency talks have been held after IOMAX discovered that L3 was trying to use the US government to have Egypt buy the AT-802L that it has developed with Air Tractor instead.

"We have found that Air Tractor and L3 have been misrepresenting their product in Egypt, but luckily we found this out before it had gone through the [Defense Security Cooperation Agency] DSCA, the State Department and the [US Air Force] USAF [approval process]. We have now corrected that narrative, and are in the final stages of discussions with the Egyptians for the sale of the Archangel," the IOMAX official told Jane's.

According to the official, Air Tractor and L3 had been looking to sell their AT-802L into Egypt on the basis that it was already fielded and in service with the UAE, whereas in fact this is the IOMAX AT-802 and its successor Archangel. "To say the Egyptians were dismayed when they realised Air Tractor and L3 had never built or much less fielded an armed AT-802, and in addition were not the ones who build the current Archangel, would not be an overstatement," he said.

Although IOMAX told Jane's that it had corrected the narrative with the Egyptians, it noted that this was not before the country's MoD had submitted a sole source letter of recommendation (LOR) request to the US government for the AT-802L based on its misunderstanding of the situation. http://www.janes.com/article/68188/iomax-moves-to-secure-egyptian-archangel-sale-from-competitor

That last statement hahahaha
"MoD had submitted a sole source letter of recommendation (LOR) request to the US government for the AT-802L based on its misunderstanding of the situation."


Misunderstanding of the situation WTF, they said something similar with the Kenyan deal.... They even used archangel pictures when they were pitching it to Kenya DoD, only later to award the deal to L-3

GreenandGold:
I honestly wonder why Nigeria and Kenya had to suckup to the US just to buy the Air Tractor and Tucano. Couldn't you have gone East for something better like attack helis or combat trainer jets.

Why beg so much to pay so much. It's rather humiliating.

What combat trainer jets that are already in the battlefield and converted to attack roles with mordern munition and avionics similar to the western.....
A truly dedicated gunship is much more expensive, a chinese Z-10 is $17Mil a pop, same price for russian Mi-28.......
Besides the issue of price, the light attack craft also come with the advantage of ISR capability and endurance, the aircraft could spend alot of hours high up in the sky out of visual range looking for enemy targets.. and if it finds them, it double as attack craft so no need to call other air-strike..


Besides, Most countries fighting terrorism in M.East AKA terrorism central Command eigther already have or are currently in the proces of acquiring light attack aircraft for COIN,

AFghan Airforce has orderd 20 A-29
Lebanon has ordered 6 Tucanos for $462M ..... although the deal also include 2,000 APKWS

The deal is worth an estimated $462 million, and includes the sale of 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) – a laser-guided rocket produced by BAE Systems. Other beneficiaries would include Terma North America and L-3 Communications.

“This proposed sale serves US national, economic and security interests by providing Lebanon with airborne capabilities needed to maintain internal security, enforce United Nation’s security council resolutions 1559 and 1701, and counter terrorist threats,” the notice says.

The potential sale comes as the US government approves another potential deal with Lebanon for an undisclosed number of Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles. That sales is worth an estimated $146 million.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-approves-possible-462m-a-29-super-tucano-sale-to-413350/

Jordan wants to upgrade its AT-802 to archangel standards

Before the UAE ordered the Archangel, the country had been operating 24 armed Air Tractor AT-802 border patrol (BP) aircraft that had also been converted by Iomax. Despite sharing a similar appearance to the AT-802, the Archangel uses a slightly different airframe supplied by Thrush Aircraft instead.

Six of those AT-802 aircraft – the first to be converted by Iomax in Orlando, Florida – are now with Jordan, which is interested in upgrading the AT-802's weapon systems to the Archangel standard.

The Archangel aircraft has six dual-weapon hard points, three on each wing, that can carry 1,000lbs each including a variety of weapon systems and pods. At IDEX, the UAE aircraft included two Hellfire missiles, two CIRIT quad-pack launcher systems (QPLS), and two mock laser-guided GBU-58 Paveway II bombs.

An interesting addition to each wing's outboard weapon pylons was two Terma Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment (MASE) pods, which provides 360 degree coverage against man-portable air defence (MANPAD) weapons.

Twenty-four pairs of MASE pods have been acquired by the UAE, providing an expedited self-protection capability for the Archangel. A future upgrade could see a fully-integrated self-protection suite fitted, freeing up the two outer stations for additional weapon stores.

Expanding more on how the UAE pilots use the aircraft on operations, Toole said that a favoured tactic is to fly night operations at medium altitude, where the aircraft is virtually invisible to those on the ground.

Pilots will then deploy weapon systems from altitude to strike enemy positions. The inertial-guided CIRIT – made by Turkish company Roketsan – can be fired out to targets several kilometres away and in its terminal phase is guided by a semi-active laser, similar to the Hellfire. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/special-operations/idex-2017-uae-eyes-additional-archangels/

UAE took its last delivery of its 24th archangel last month, it had ordered them in 2015, They now plan to add 12 More.. This is in addition to 48 AT-*)@ UAE had already taken delivery of although they have given them to its allies- 6 to jordan, 12 to egypt, others were given to Lybia

After successful deployment to Yemen and other regional hotspots, the United Arab Emirates is expected to place even more orders for the US-built Iomax 'Archangel' counter-insurgency aircraft.

The penultimate aircraft from a 24-aircraft order placed two years ago was on display at this year's IDEX in Abu Dhabi, with the final aircraft expected to be delivered to the UAE next month from the company's North Carolina plant.

A total of 12 additional aircraft – based on the Thrush 710P agricultural aircraft – could be ordered soon to bolster the Archangel fleet, according to Jim Toole, Iomax's chief technology officer. https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/special-operations/idex-2017-uae-eyes-additional-archangels/

In addition to the 12 At-802 Egypt was given by UAE, egypt wants to upgrage them to archangel standards, they also plan to order 10 arcangels....

Now, Doesnt egypt have a mixture of most of the mordern fighters and attack helos, drones already?? from f-16, rafale, Mig-21s, Mig-35s,..... they also have advance trainers like Alpha jet, L-59s...to gunships such as Mi-8,Apache, Ka-52, black hawks......

Why would a military with such an enviable arsenal be looking to use cheap light attack aircrafts for its day to day COIN operations instead of its expensive firepower