African air forces are preparing for their first joint Command Post and Field Training Exercise (AAAFEX CPX/FTX), scheduled to take place in Kenya in 2027 as countries seek to strengthen their ability to respond collectively to humanitarian emergencies and disasters.
Taking to its X update on Monday, KDF said that the exercise is being organised by the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF) and is expected to bring together multinational air resources under a Kenya-led response.
Representatives from 15 AAAF member countries, together with the United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, met in Nairobi from August 3-7 for a Mid Planning Conference to advance preparations for the exercise.
The conference was used to refine the exercise plan, validate draft Standard Operating Procedures and the Concept of Air Operations and Movement, and strengthen interoperability among participating air forces.
The organisers highlighted that collaboration among African air forces was critical to developing collective air power and ensuring forces could work together effectively during emergencies.
The 2027 exercise will test how quickly participating countries can mobilise and integrate multinational air resources following activation. It will also assess command and air tasking procedures and the delivery of coordinated humanitarian assistance to communities affected by disasters.
The exercise is expected to operate under a Kenya-led framework, providing participating forces with an opportunity to test their ability to coordinate operations across national boundaries while responding to humanitarian needs.
Presiding over the Nairobi conference, Exercise Director and Base Commander of Laikipia Air Base Brigadier Hillary Kipkurui said the planning process would be essential to ensuring the exercise delivers practical results.
“The success of AAAFEX will depend on our ability to plan together, challenge our assumptions and refine our procedures. I urge all participating members to continue critiquing the plan and identifying gaps so that, by the time we execute the exercise, we have a robust, practical and interoperable framework capable of delivering the desired humanitarian effects,” he said.
The Mid Planning Conference brought together military representatives to examine the proposed exercise framework and identify areas requiring further refinement before the field exercise is conducted.
The exercise is intended not only to test operational capabilities but also to strengthen relationships and coordination among African air forces.
By developing common procedures and improving interoperability, participating forces are expected to become better equipped to respond to emergencies that may require rapid deployment of air assets and coordinated humanitarian operations.
The initiative reflects a growing emphasis on collective preparedness, particularly where disasters and humanitarian emergencies can overwhelm the resources of individual countries.
The AAAF said the planning conference represented an important stage in turning the exercise concept into a credible multinational capability.
The exercise will ultimately seek to demonstrate how African air forces can combine their capabilities and respond rapidly to crises while maintaining effective command structures and safe air operations.
The organisers said the initiative was anchored on the principle behind its name, “Nguvu Pamoja”, which means collective strength.
The Mid Planning Conference therefore marks a significant step towards the 2027 exercise, with participating countries expected to continue refining plans and addressing identified gaps before multinational forces assemble in Kenya.
The exercise will provide an opportunity to assess the practical ability of African air forces to work together during humanitarian crises while strengthening interoperability and shared operational capacity across the continent.