Discussions between EU NAVFOR and the Kenyan Ministry of Defence on the provision of support to the Kenyan Air force (KAF) MPA came to fruition earlier this month with the fitting of camera equipment that will support the fight against piracy.
On 30 November EU NAVFOR Sqn Ldr Burge visited Moi Air Base in Kenya. The aim of the visit was to brief Col Ops Col Mulata of the Kenyan Air Force on the current operational situation of Operation Atalanta and also to fit camera equipment provided from the EU to enhance the KAF MPA capability. The intention was to conduct training with the KAF in Maritime Planning and tactical employment enabling the KAF to take high quality photographs of contacts at sea and pass them back to Kenya HQ and also to the EU NAVFOR OHQ.
During the visit Sqn Ldr Burge joined one of the crews from 14 Sqn KAF to conduct a maritime surveillance sortie. During the mission a number of contacts were made with possible suspicious vessels and this presented a good opportunity to take photographs with the new equipment.
EU NAVFOR is grateful to the Kenyan armed forces for the excellent support they provide to the anti piracy effort. This added capability will prove useful in the future, especially given the probable need to continue Maritime Patrol deployments in the Somali Basin.
On 30 November EU NAVFOR Sqn Ldr Burge visited Moi Air Base in Kenya. The aim of the visit was to brief Col Ops Col Mulata of the Kenyan Air Force on the current operational situation of Operation Atalanta and also to fit camera equipment provided from the EU to enhance the KAF MPA capability. The intention was to conduct training with the KAF in Maritime Planning and tactical employment enabling the KAF to take high quality photographs of contacts at sea and pass them back to Kenya HQ and also to the EU NAVFOR OHQ.
During the visit Sqn Ldr Burge joined one of the crews from 14 Sqn KAF to conduct a maritime surveillance sortie. During the mission a number of contacts were made with possible suspicious vessels and this presented a good opportunity to take photographs with the new equipment.
EU NAVFOR is grateful to the Kenyan armed forces for the excellent support they provide to the anti piracy effort. This added capability will prove useful in the future, especially given the probable need to continue Maritime Patrol deployments in the Somali Basin.