Kenya to Host First Full-Scale African Air Forces Exercise in 2027

Kenya will host the first full-scale Association of African Air Forces Exercise (AAAFEX) in early 2027, bringing together air forces from across the continent to improve their collective response to humanitarian crises and natural disasters.

The Kenya Air Force is already preparing for the exercise, having held high-level discussions with the United States military in January 2025 to outline a roadmap for the event. The exercise will feature both command post simulations and live field operations, including search and rescue missions, medical evacuations, and the delivery of essential supplies to affected regions.

This exercise builds on Kenya’s past hosting of regional air power events, such as the African Air Chiefs Symposium in 2019. AAAFEX will be the first time command-level planning and live operations are tested in tandem, reflecting the broader goal of strengthening cooperation among African air forces.

Kenya’s longstanding partnership with the United States military, particularly through initiatives like the Justified Accord exercise, has laid the groundwork for this event. The two forces regularly collaborate on training in areas such as countering improvised explosive devices, urban combat, and crisis response, while also providing medical outreach.