Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF),

Not UN but SIPRI.

S-125-2D. Uganda received some of these between 2010 and 2011 from Ukraine. TZ have some too. Not bad at all. Kudos UPDF that is the way to go. Modernize.

Uganda's air assets(esp offensive) have increased substantially over the last few years more so with the acquisition of the formidable SU-30 combat jets(a technological leap some say). The ground troops have not been left out too in what appears to be a modernization of some sort. One area though that seems to have been forgotten is the rotary wing of the airforce- a few helicopter gunships for the force would go a long way in solving some headaches such as those posed by one Joseph Kony and Al-Shabaab. This is one area that Uganda needs to pay attention to with some seriousness. There have been rumors of drones, but what about helicopters? Isn't anyone seeing the need for these? Kenya seems to have increased her combat helicopter fleet substantially over the last few years. Can Uganda borrow a leaf here?

I agree that the UPDF airforce needs attack choppers, but it is not that they have not been giving it the priority that it deserves. For the last 20 years, they have tried to acquire attack choppers-especially Mi-24s. Indeed, they have acquired at least 12 of which at least six are in operation today-including the night operation enabled MI-24PN versions -acquired in 2003 and which are hugely lauded for having chased Joseph Kony out of Uganda. However, with the upgrading accross the border, with Sus and T-90s, the rotary wing needs something to match-perhaps some MI-28s?

In Kenya for example, some combat helicopters actually belong to the army and are used as airborne artillery while the rest are owned by the airforce. And they have a variety of these choppers- the ZW-9s, Mil Mi-28, the MD500s and still testing the Kamov 50s.

aggressor one wrote: However, with the upgrading accross the border, with Sus and T-90s, the rotary wing needs something to match-perhaps some MI-28s?

@aggressor one, welcome on board, mind explainining a bit on the quote, iam not aware of any other country in the region with "Sus and T-90s" other than mighty Uganda.

Olekoima wrote:In Kenya for example, some combat helicopters actually belong to the army and are used as airborne artillery while the rest are owned by the airforce. And they have a variety of these choppers- the ZW-9s, Mil Mi-28, the MD500s and still testing the Kamov 50s.

You are correct.
the 50TH air cavalry unit of the KDF was an army operation formed after the 1982 coup attempt by the then KAF.
they operated all rotary winged combat choppers like the md 500 while the kenya airforce operated the heavy lift transports including the VIP transport assets.
but there seems To be a deliberate integration of these assets during OLN because there is a joint operations command...that is why you see the small choppers still having the markings "ARMY"
while the big choppers have Kenya air force markings.

1)
on another note when did UPDF acquire T90?
Am sure Kenyans would have known,because these would have passed through Mombasa port, then by road to Uganda on heavy lift trucks.
it is not viable to deliver these 47 to 53 tonnes each heavy monsters by air.
2)
it seems the officer corps in updf and the special forces brigade formerly presidential guards is more than disproportionally staffed by museveni tribesmen or lets say banyankole.is this not a recipe for discontent and future disaster?

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1373776/-/awqoykz/-/index.html

Sorry, i meant accross the board not accross the border.

It is almost public knowledge that Uganda has the tee-90s, wikipedia puts the figure at 100..hmmn, Sipri puts it at 31, acquired as part of the Su-30s contract. Where they passed is another story.

aggressor one wrote:It is almost public knowledge that Uganda has the tee-90s, wikipedia puts the figure at 100..hmmn, Sipri puts it at 31, acquired as part of the Su-30s contract. Where they passed is another story.

This is true. Risasi even posted a link of these international arms transfers on the Kenyan page. I think 31 pieces have already been delivered. They could have passed through Dar like the modernized T-55s did.

I never Knew UPDF owned humvees {photo is taken in kampala} The SWAT TEAMS



The Might Sukhoi's

Photos taken in 2009, September. The Humvees have been around for sometime.

aggressor one wrote:Photos taken in 2009, September. The Humvees have been around for sometime.

These are even quoted in Wikipedia, about 50 of them.

Olekoima wrote:

aggressor one wrote:Photos taken in 2009, September. The Humvees have been around for sometime.

These are even quoted in Wikipedia, about 50 of them.

Thanks Agressor and Olekoima but i dont read wiki

Very impressive war machines for Uganda. Uganda is struggling to be a military defense hub, and is giving Sipri plenty of ammunition for analysis on kenyana.

Sudan fighting and...

Intimate reports of how M7 was briefed. How does anybody get hands on the confidential presidential briefings?


Mooz

MOOZALENDO wrote: Sudan fighting and...

Intimate reports of how M7 was briefed. How does anybody get hands on the confidential presidential briefings?


Mooz

That story can be described with one word, baloney. Journalists have developed a tactic of throwing around words like ''intelligence" and "sources from state house" to give their fiction weight in the eyes of the undiscerning.

And Al Bashil, who has failed to finish off a hummingbird, can't be taken seriously when he asks for a turkey.

And Al Bashil, who has failed to finish off a hummingbird, can't be taken seriously when he asks for a turkey.

Well said Spartan. He has numerous arenas to dance with deminishing resources. South,West and internal squabbling(Khartoum power struggle) without forgeting ICJ. Like I said a month ago,this can easily lead to another new country or his leadership demise. The only reason his Generals are on this one is because SS is the aggressor. Before then,they opposed drums of war on grounds of delapidated/overstretched resources. However, his boys can still give a punch.

BTW,ongoing reports suggesting that sammy is admonishing SS for this are probably media pr or the two faced "otoyo/fisi". Business interest rules and SS was dated and seduced long before skirmishes. Numerous scores are being settled here folks (East V West)!!!. On this matrix,auctioning resource futures for $$$$ to shop for knives and toys from the East(uncle Ho) is not a good idea. It is idebting a young nation with "deadhood debts"!

Looks like the UPDF has hit a snag training pilots to fly those glorious Sukhoi's.They are angry on what they are earning in flying those birds about $500 dollars monthly while their Russian experts who are flying helicopters is earning 8,000dollars monthly plus added bonuses.

"The pilots say their morale is totally down yet they are operating ‘complex’ jets."

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1390390/-/item/0/-/6tcl6kz/-/index.html

I've always kept a respectable distance when two people I respect for intellect and command of the East African geopolitics, Spartan and my patriot Ole Nkarei lock horns (do not wish to be collateral:lol: ). Ole Nkarei has argued eloquently about the enablers that accompany effective AF ops. Indeed, it appears it will take some time before UPDF has sufficient capacity to op the Sues. I must however hasten to add that things must start somewhere and besides, when flying, hitting turbulence is not cause enough to abort a flight.

@Spartan bro, it could appear that govs generally like leaking certain pieces of info to serve specific purposes from time to time. The outlet of choice will usually be the same, but you can only get the trend after many months of painstaking observation.

Mooz

cylon wrote:Looks like the UPDF has hit a snag training pilots to fly those glorious Sukhoi's.They are angry on what they are earning in flying those birds about $500 dollars monthly while their Russian experts who are flying helicopters is earning 8,000dollars monthly plus added bonuses.

"The pilots say their morale is totally down yet they are operating ‘complex’ jets."

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1390390/-/item/0/-/6tcl6kz/-/index.html

cylon wrote:Looks like the UPDF has hit a snag training pilots to fly those glorious Sukhoi's.They are angry on what they are earning in flying those birds about $500 dollars monthly while their Russian experts who are flying helicopters is earning 8,000dollars monthly plus added bonuses.

"The pilots say their morale is totally down yet they are operating ‘complex’ jets."

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1390390/-/item/0/-/6tcl6kz/-/index.html

Interesting! the other day, we were told that UPDAF failed to get pilots for training to pilot these birds, insn`t it? so were did these who have now refused to fly the birds come from? Incidentally, i mix with these pilots during my sojourns from one theatre to another and i know that most of this talk is wishful thinking.

MOOZALENDO wrote:I've always kept a respectable distance when two people I respect for intellect and command of the East African geopolitics, Spartan and my patriot Ole Nkarei lock horns (do not wish to be collateral:lol: ). Ole Nkarei has argued eloquently about the enablers that accompany effective AF ops. Indeed, it appears it will take some time before UPDF has sufficient capacity to op the Sues. I must however hasten to add that things must start somewhere and besides, when flying, hitting turbulence is not cause enough to abort a flight.

@Spartan bro, it could appear that govs generally like leaking certain pieces of info to serve specific purposes from time to time. The outlet of choice will usually be the same, but you can only get the trend after many months of painstaking observation.

Mooz

Hey Mooz - like you, I respect Spartan a hell of alot; and am wary of him at my six. But i reckon he knows too that we cannot and must not agree allatime - discussions would be stale otherwise.

And you are right too about Govas putting our info for specific purposes, markets and medium. All part of the job.

@aggressor-one - break out of this defensive perimeter. There is a hell of a lot going on around us, apart from the usual (annoying?) comments about those Sukhois, that could gain from your insightful opinions. Post, man!!

ole Nkarei wrote:

MOOZALENDO wrote:I've always kept a respectable distance when two people I respect for intellect and command of the East African geopolitics, Spartan and my patriot Ole Nkarei lock horns (do not wish to be collateral:lol: ). Ole Nkarei has argued eloquently about the enablers that accompany effective AF ops. Indeed, it appears it will take some time before UPDF has sufficient capacity to op the Sues. I must however hasten to add that things must start somewhere and besides, when flying, hitting turbulence is not cause enough to abort a flight.

@Spartan bro, it could appear that govs generally like leaking certain pieces of info to serve specific purposes from time to time. The outlet of choice will usually be the same, but you can only get the trend after many months of painstaking observation.

Mooz

Hey Mooz - like you, I respect Spartan a hell of alot; and am wary of him at my six. But i reckon he knows too that we cannot and must not agree allatime - discussions would be stale otherwise.

And you are right too about Govas putting our info for specific purposes, markets and medium. All part of the job.

@aggressor-one - break out of this defensive perimeter. There is a hell of a lot going on around us, apart from the usual (annoying?) comments about those Sukhois, that could gain from your insightful opinions. Post, man!!

Ole, i read you clearly, but you have mentioned that it is always in defence...which means that am reacting to some aggression rather than me being the aggressor. Perhaps the attackers should also be cautioned to tone down....

This article by someone in the US is perhaps not nice music for the regime in Uganda. Please read on and share your thoughts:-

http://blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/8173/2012-05-02.html

Olekoima wrote:This article by someone in the US is perhaps not nice music for the regime in Uganda. Please read on and share your thoughts:-

http://blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/8173/2012-05-02.html

Mr. Alimadi, the editor of blackstar news, is from Northern Uganda and is one of those who believe that the war in the north was a grand plan to carry out genocide against the Acholi, and that Kony is the good guy.

A credible source. NOT

Uganda and the Sudans:-

http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/uganda/articles/20120505.aspx

Read this too:-

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/630826-updf-ready-to-hit-sudan-war-planes.html

An interesting article by the East African:-

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Seven+lessons+Burundi+and+Uganda+can+teach+Kenya+soldiers/-/2558/1399910/-/wl4x4x/-/

Recent pics from the hunt for Joseph Kony.