Denmark has delivered a number of drones from the manufacturer UPTEKO to the Kenyan Navy. The donation is described as part of the country's support against the terrorist organisation Al-Shabaab and aims to enhance the capability to combat piracy and drug smuggling.
The donation includes two different types of drone systems. One variant is intended for security surveillance of bases and fixed installations. The other is a smaller tactical drone designed to support Kenyan special forces during patrols in difficult-to-access swamp and mangrove areas near the border with Somalia.
It is through these border areas that Al-Shabaab infiltrates Kenya and where arms smuggling often occurs, according to the communiqué.
According to the Danish Defence, the interest in drone capability is driven by developments in Ukraine and the Houthi rebels' attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. There is an expressed concern about a collaboration between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab regarding the exchange of weapons technology and tactics.
– Knowledge of the use of drones is a prerequisite for being able to counter a threat from them. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that we help Kenya get started with development in this area, where the Kenya Navy builds both knowledge and capacity to use drones tactically, says Commander Kjeld Gaard-Frederiksen, liaison officer at the Kenya Navy.
– The cooperation with the Kenyan Navy provides UPTEKO with realistic, operational feedback on our systems. This enables us to refine both technology and training programmes based on actual use in challenging environments. It strengthens our ability to develop drones that can also benefit the defence in Denmark, says Benjamin Meinertz, co-founder of UPTEKO.
The initiative is also described as part of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Africa strategy, where the ambition is for Denmark and the EU to serve as an alternative to other actors, such as China.