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Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) in collaboration with the American Military has formed a special squad that responsible for rescue and evacuation of pilots whose planes succumb to attacks during war.
The squad dubbed “Linda Rhino” will incorporate 285 soldiers from KDF, 60 from The American Soldiers and 15 from The Peoples Defense Forces of Uganda who will be training in the next ten days in Laikipia Air Base and Archers post region in Isiolo County.
Speaking during the launch of the training at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, Defense Cabinet Secretary Rachael Omamo said the special unit will be instrumental in ensuring that pilots are rescued and evacuated from the enemy territory.
Omamo said that the joint collaboration between Kenya, USA and Uganda in the training will equip the force with high class knowledge of such an operation especially at this period when the world is fighting terrorism and extremist groups.
She further described the move as urgent noting that with the fight against Al-Shabaab, cases of fighter jets being downed and need for pilot rescue are high.
America ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec noted that his country has been in the forefront in impacting knowledge and offering technical support on the war against terrorism and its cooperation with Kenya will continue.
Godec said that during president Obama’s visit to Kenya there were lengthy talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta on how the two countries would work together in equipping their forces
