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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.

Contents

History

Aircraft inventory

References

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.

Aircraft inventory

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aerospatale SA330H Puma || || Transport helicopter || SA330H ||5
|-----
| Aerospatiale SA342K Gazelle || || Attack helicopter || SA342K ||13
|-----
| BAe Hawk || || Advanced Trainer || - ||9
|-----
| Boeing AH-64 Apache || || Attack helicopter || - ||16
|-----
| Lockheed L-100 Hercules || || Transport || - ||6
|-----
| Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma || || Transport helicopter || AS332M ||4
|-----
| Eurocopter AS532SC Cougar || || Maritime Security helicopter || AS532SC ||?
|-----
| McDonnell-Douglas F-18 Hornet || || Interceptor and ground attack || - ||39
|-----
| Shorts Tucano || || Lead-in trainer || - ||8
|}

References

★ Summary of Kuwait military power

★ Article on Kuwaiti Military

★ Account of the 1990 invasion, focusing on the air war