Kenya has taken delivery of the first of three surplus US Air Force (USAF) PZL Mielec C-145A Combat Coyote (M-28 Skytruck) light transport aircraft.
The first C-145A – serial KAF2001 – was formally commissioned into Kenya Air Force (KAF) service on April 20 at Moi Air Base, Eastleigh. The event was presided over by the KAF’s commander, Maj Gen Francis Ogolla. The acquisition of the type is intended to enable phasing out of the Harbin Y-12 II Turbo Panda fleet.
![Kenya AF C-145A [KDF]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/Kenyan%20AF%20C-145A%20commissioining%20Moi%20Air%20Base%2021-4-21-worked%20%20KDF.jpg)
The KAF had requested the supply of six C-145As from the US as Excess Defense Articles (EDA), but due to the limited number of aircraft available, on August 15, 2016, only three were authorised for supply to Kenya under the EDA process. These were officially acquired following signature of the Kenya United States Liaison Office (KUSLO) agreement by the two governments on April 4, 2017. KAF pilots and loadmasters have been training on the type since September 2019 with US Air Force Special Operations Command’s 492nd Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
The first example for the KAF is believed to be former USAF serial 08-0310 (c/n AJE003-10), which was noted passing through Greater Moncton International Airport, Canada, on January 24, en route to Kenya. On January 27, it flew from Wick, Scotland, to Antwerp, Belgium, before leaving the following day for Pula Airport, Croatia, then onwards via Athens, Greece, to continue its delivery flight to the KAF. The remaining two C-145As allocated for the KAF are believed to be 10-0321 (c/n AJE003-21) and 11-0326 (c/n AJE003-26), although their current status is unknown.
