Kuwait Air Force

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Kuwait Air Force
Founded	early 1950s
Country	Kuwait
Part of	Military of Kuwait
HQ	Al Mubarak Air Base
Insignia
Roundel

The Kuwait Air Force (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya) is the air arm of the State of Kuwait. The Air Force headquarters is located at Al Mubarak Air Base, with the remaining forces stationed at Air Defense Brigade,Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base. The Kuwait Air Force numbers approximately 2,500 officer and enlisted personnel.

[edit] History

The Kuwait Air Force was formed with British assistance in the early 1950s. It was initial equipped with British aircraft (including the Hawker Hunter and BAC Lightning). In the 1970s interceptor aircraft were supplied by France (Dassault Mirage F1), and ground attack aircraft by the United States (Douglas A-4 Skyhawks).

In the 1980s the need for training aircraft was filled by the BAe Hawk and the Shorts Tucano. The delivery of the Tucano was delayed by the invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

During the Invasion of Kuwait, the Kuwait Air Force attempted to defend Kuwait before most of its aircraft were evacuated to Saudi Arabia.

After the first Gulf War the air force was re-organised and the McDonnell-Douglas F-18 Hornet replaced the Mirages and Skyhawks.

[edit] Aircraft inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service
Aerospatale SA-330 Puma	France	Transport helicopter	SA-330H	5
Aerospatiale SA-342 Gazelle	France	Attack helicopter	SA-342K	13
BAe Hawk	United Kingdom	Advanced Trainer	-	9
McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache	United States	Attack helicopter	-	16
Lockheed L-100 Hercules	United States	Transport	-	6
Eurocopter AS-332 Super Puma	France	Transport helicopter	AS-332M	4
Eurocopter AS-532 Cougar	France	Maritime Security helicopter	AS-532SC	?
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet	United States	Interceptor and ground attack	-	39
Shorts Tucano	United Kingdom	Lead-in trainer	-	8