Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: RVtitem on January 30, 2017, 11:08:27 PM
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Kenya had ordered for the pilotless
aircraft, dubbed ScanEagle, in 2015 at a cost of $9.86 million (Sh1 billion) under the US Department of Defence’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
www.businessdailyafrica.com/539546-3791996-mva886/index.html
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Kenya had ordered for the pilotless
aircraft, dubbed ScanEagle, in 2015 at a cost of $9.86 million (Sh1 billion) under the US Department of Defence’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
www.businessdailyafrica.com/539546-3791996-mva886/index.html
Ati $9.86 million?
Pfft, that's not enough for the jubilee thieves. $418 million sounds slightly better.
[pdf]http://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/kenya_16-79.pdf[/pdf]
http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/government-kenya-air-tractor-aircraft-weapons-and-related-support
(http://www.fieldair.com.au/thumbs.php?id=38&w=900&t=p)
2-seater AT-802
(http://www.us.all.biz/img/us/catalog/9496.jpeg)
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US lawmaker seeks to halt Sh43b Kenya-US military deal
Congressman Ted Budd claims his office has received credible allegations of faulty contracting practices, fraud, and unfair treatment surrounding the sale of 12 Air Tractors to Kenyan military
February 16, 2017
Air Tractor
A US congressman has asked for the sale of 12 Air Tractor aircraft to Kenya to be halted while allegations of faulty contracting practices, fraud, and unfair treatment are investigated, defenceweb.co.za reports.
The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on January 19 notified Congress of the possible sale of up to twelve Air Tractor AT-802L and two AT-504 trainer aircraft, weapons, technical support to Kenya in a deal that could be worth up to Sh43 billion (US$418 million).
The prime contractor would be L-3 Communications, Platform Integration Division, Waco, Texas. The AT-802L Longsword, developed in conjunction with L-3 and Air Tractor, is based on the previous militarised AT-802U, but features a number of improvements.
US Representative Ted Budd on Tuesday introduced a resolution to halt the Foreign Military Sale of the Air Tractors to Kenya, according to the site, which prides itself as a premier online African defence and security news publication.
“The proposed sale would reward a US$13 billion (Sh135 billion) company (L-3) that has never produced airplanes of this type and would cost US$283 million (Sh29 billion) more than a small business in North Carolina (Iomax), which is currently producing the needed aircraft,” it quotes Budd as saying.
“This is at least the third instance the disabled veteran-owned NC contractor (Iomax) was passed over, despite its ability to deliver a more cost-effective option.
“My office has received credible allegations of faulty contracting practices, fraud, and unfair treatment surrounding this sale. Given that this proposed contract was decided without competition, to a company that has no experience or track record producing this kind of aircraft, and for a price that is more than double what a contractor in our district has quoted, further investigation is definitely in order.
“The resolution I introduced today would halt this sale, and give the Congress time to look into these troubling allegations. We need to ensure that Kenya, a longtime ally, is getting a fair deal, and that veteran-owned small businesses in our state aren’t getting shut out of competition because of government favouritism towards giant contractors.”
Budd said that Iomax claims it can fulfil the contract for Sh18.7 billion (US$180 million), and it has 48 weaponised border patrol aircraft in service, as opposed to zero for L-3.
Budd is the member of the US House of Representatives for North Carolina’s 13th congressional district and therefore has an interest in supporting industry in his state. Air Tractor is based in Texas while L-3 has headquarters in New York.
Politico, a US publication, notes that if adopted, Budd’s measure would be the first time Congress votes to block a foreign arms sale since 1986. His resolution has been passed to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In announcing the potential sale last month, the DSCA said the Air Tractor aircraft would be used to support operations against al-Shabaab and troop contributor to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
“The proposed sale provides a needed capability in the ongoing efforts to counter al-Shabaab. The platform maximizes the Kenyan Defense Force’s Close Air Support (CAS) ability because it is a short-field aircraft capable of using precision munitions and cost effective logistics and maintenance.”
The US said the proposed sale supplements Kenya’s aging F-5 fighter aircraft as it will be more fiscally efficient and able to be pre-positioned much closer to the conflict area than the F-5 fleet.
The AT-802U was introduced in 2009 can carry a 3 600 kg payload on 11 hardpoints that includes Mk 82 bombs, Hellfire missiles, M260 rocket launchers and GAU-19 Gatling guns. Useful load is 4 000 kg after armour has been fitted.
According to Air Tractor, the AT-802U is protected by cockpit and engine armour, self-sealing fuel tanks and armoured glass windscreens and windows. The AT-802U can be fitted with a wide variety of sensors, such as retractable L-3 Wescam MX-15Di sensor pod, ROVER video downlink, satellite communications, and secure radios. A Pratt & Whitney PT6A engine provides 1 600 shp, giving a maximum speed of 394 km/h
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Did they do research, or this is the same like China where we were sold old trains at exorbitant prices!!!
Why is no one ever held accoutanble when taxpayer money goes out the window?
Tanzania does hold people acountable. Ethiopia does too.
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at an inflated cost. Kenya is ready to pay 35 million USD per frame. By comparison, an F-15 Eagle fighter jet, the most succesful in history, goes for less than 30 million USD per frame. Granted it's more costly to operate an F-15 Eagle. Still if Kenya chooses the air tractor it is not clear how a unit of these machines is more expensive than an F-15.
This looks like a close combat air support machine. So it does the same job as an A-10 warthog. An a-10 Warthog is going for about 18 million USD a frame. Of course it is far superior and cheaper than the KDF air tractor, though it might be more costly to operate.
“My office has received credible allegations of faulty contracting practices, fraud and unfair treatment surrounding this sale,” Congressman Ted Budd said on Tuesday.
In urging his colleagues to block and investigate the deal, the North Carolina Republican said a company in his home state would sell Kenya planes better suited for their envisioned purpose at less than half the quoted price.
(http://militaryedge.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/at-802u_airborne-e1443729401360.jpg)
Air Tractor AT-802L
(http://www.listoid.com/image/25/list_2_25_20101108_032536_649.jpg)
F-15 Eagle.
(http://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2013/12/16/warthog3_c0-0-1024-597_s885x516.jpg?ed8b09ee3171454c21087d312e13131398e80f67)
A-10 Warthog
http://www.nation.co.ke/news/kenyas-Sh43-billion-US-arms-deal-at-risk/1056-3815984-xrje3hz/index.html (http://www.nation.co.ke/news/kenyas-Sh43-billion-US-arms-deal-at-risk/1056-3815984-xrje3hz/index.html)
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What do they actually do with these things? Whenever they take break from sugar-and-charcoal and get down to trading blows with the likes of Al Kebab they don't seem to do particularly well. But, of course, I'd rather have them "busy" over there than back at home, where, historically, they have proved themselves to be a grave danger to the welfare and security of the citizens ... from Mt. Elgon to Wagalla and in-between.
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at an inflated cost. Kenya is ready to pay 35 million USD per frame. By comparison, an F-15 Eagle fighter jet, the most succesful in history, goes for less than 30 million USD per frame. Granted it's more costly to operate an F-15 Eagle. Still if Kenya chooses the air tractor it is not clear how a unit of these machines is more expensive than an F-15.
This looks like a close combat air support machine. So it does the same job as an A-10 warthog. An a-10 Warthog is going for about 18 million USD a frame. Of course it is far superior and cheaper than the KDF air tractor, though it might be more costly to operate.
“My office has received credible allegations of faulty contracting practices, fraud and unfair treatment surrounding this sale,” Congressman Ted Budd said on Tuesday.
In urging his colleagues to block and investigate the deal, the North Carolina Republican said a company in his home state would sell Kenya planes better suited for their envisioned purpose at less than half the quoted price.
Not defending .ke as we all know how we like to eat (and of course this order must be comfortably padded) but this guy's only looking after his voters (doesn't give a sh!t about .ke). Wants to give them business and he's only talking of the planes, not the assorted weapons packages.
I'd earlier posted the source here, explaining what the $418m encompasses:
Re: Kenya has acquired 4 drones for KES. 1 Billion (http://www.nipate.org/index.php?topic=3874.msg27858#msg27858)
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What do they actually do with these things? Whenever they take break from sugar-and-charcoal and get down to trading blows with the likes of Al Kebab they don't seem to do particularly well. But, of course, I'd rather have them "busy" over there than back at home, where, historically, they have proved themselves to be a grave danger to the welfare and security of the citizens ... from Mt. Elgon to Wagalla and in-between.
They are supposed to throttle Al Shabaab. My hunch is they would have done it already, but a Kenyan has to stop somewhere and eat - whether it's charcoal, or regular theft of resources meant for the battle. I know how much you feel about the brutes in KDF uniform. But in this case, I think they are as much victims as perps.
They are renewable cannon fodder. The resources set aside officially to make it less painful for them whenever they encounter Al Shabaab, are most likely going the way any other public resource goes in Kenya. Even though CORD talks of pulling out, they'll see the money and simply change their minds - if they win.
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at an inflated cost. Kenya is ready to pay 35 million USD per frame. By comparison, an F-15 Eagle fighter jet, the most succesful in history, goes for less than 30 million USD per frame. Granted it's more costly to operate an F-15 Eagle. Still if Kenya chooses the air tractor it is not clear how a unit of these machines is more expensive than an F-15.
This looks like a close combat air support machine. So it does the same job as an A-10 warthog. An a-10 Warthog is going for about 18 million USD a frame. Of course it is far superior and cheaper than the KDF air tractor, though it might be more costly to operate.
“My office has received credible allegations of faulty contracting practices, fraud and unfair treatment surrounding this sale,” Congressman Ted Budd said on Tuesday.
In urging his colleagues to block and investigate the deal, the North Carolina Republican said a company in his home state would sell Kenya planes better suited for their envisioned purpose at less than half the quoted price.
Not defending .ke as we all know how we like to eat (and of course this order must be comfortably padded) but this guy's only looking after his voters (doesn't give a sh!t about .ke). Wants to give them business and he's only talking of the planes, not the assorted weapons packages.
I'd earlier posted the source here, explaining what the $418m encompasses:
Re: Kenya has acquired 4 drones for KES. 1 Billion (http://www.nipate.org/index.php?topic=3874.msg27858#msg27858)
Yepper. The man is a Republican, so his empathy quotient is exactly 0. Everything is about the bottomline to him and loved ones. You know how they roll. Like the guy who hated Obamacare with every fibre of his being, until it saved him from going bankrupt and still dying.