Mt. KENYA INCIDENT

On the 12^th of August 2012, three Ugandan military attack helicopters (Mi-24 hind) crashed into Kenya’s highest mountain killing several airmen, while others narrowly survive with minor injuries. A total of four helicopters (three Mi-24 and one Mi-17) had taken off from Laikipia air force base at around 4:50pm on Sunday en-route to the northern town of Garrisa where they were to re-fuel before proceeding to AU bases in Somalia, then after an hour later only one helicopter Mi-17 makes it to Garrisa!

After news of the incident is made known in Kampala, as usual, speculation and criticism builds up in the crowds. The Ugandan government has been marked of recently with a history of corruption especially when it comes to purchase of military and civil assets, so the criticism hauled daily at the government seems reasonable. We have reached a point in our criticism to the government that even if something right has been done, no one will believe it! But again, is it our fault not to trust the government?.........

What exactly were these helicopters and the whole crashing into Mt. Kenya scenario?

 Pros and Cons of the Mi-24s.

technical drawings of the Mi-24

The Mi-24 is a Soviet built attack helicopter with troop transporting capabilities (maximum of 8), with dimension length of 17.51M, height of 3.97M and a rotor diameter of 17.30M. It normally weighs 8200kg when empty and a maximum of 12,000kg on take off. Performance speeds up-to 335km/h, ceiling of 14,750ft and a range of 540nm (1000km). Armored to the zenith and can with stand 12.7mm shells from all angles!!

The Mi-24 was manufactured in Soviet union and first made public in September 9th 1969. It started service in 1972 and saw lots of action in Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

In the Ogaden war between Ethiopia and Somalia in 1977, this battle monster contributed much in changing winning chances of the Ethiopian forces. In 1978, when Libya fought against Chad, a battle that stretched to 1987, the Libyan army made good use of this machine and approved its combat worthiness.

The Mi-24 attack helicopter is still being produced in Russia and in active service in its air force and other NATO states in Europe, This particular helicopter is considered the equivalent of the American Black hawk, but with unbeatable speed records.

It isn't totally invincible on the battle field though. This comes as a result of its huge weights due to lots of armor on its body that makes difficult (but not impossible) different maneuvers in certain environments. The Mi-24 at speeds of 200km/h tends to be much disturbed by the Dutch roll effect, violent tail wagging and side to side rocks. Due to its twin turbo engines, the Mi-24 discharges thick trails of heat signature making it most vulnerable to both stingers and heat seeking missiles.

Events at Mt. Kenya.

Mountain Kenya is located at approximately 150km (93miles) south of the equator, in central Kenya, This mountain elevates its highest peak at 5,199M (17,057ft). The monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean controls the wet and dry seasons around the year on this mountain.
Its height acts as a major obstacle to the predominant winds from the Indian Ocean thus bringing moist air to the mountain. This air is stably stratified and often cloudy, but mostly diverted around the sides of the mountain as opposed to going over it, from June to December. But there have been incidents where this air has been suddenly forced up the mountain resulting in sudden Orographic rains and heavy thunder storms. Since this mountain is closer to the equator, the low pressure belt around the equator (inter tropical convergence zone) too contributes in the dynamic climatic activity of this mountain with variations in pressures that can cause aircraft engine failures at times.
Question should be;

1. Vertical deflections caused by mountains and other underground geological irregularities, unpredictability of climate around Mt. Kenya were all known factors or forces at play during the three month preparation of this gone sour mission of Ugandan air force deploying air assets in Somalia, but then why or what made the UPDF's command and control into deliberately ignoring already known scientific facts of terrain along thier flight route through Kenya?????
2. It is a sole responsibility of the strategic military command to control and monitor communications or in other words, all Intelligence of commanders in command structure as they direct their forces. But then, why were we left in a total Intelligence blackout for 48hrs then later  get to learn about the fate of our troops from some Kenya local wild life official when yet we claim to be a superior force, how is that?.........
3. During flight route planning, were our lost pilots (R.I.P) availed with gravity anomaly maps and digital terrain models of their flight routes uploaded in navigation systems on board, or climate changes around the Kenyan mountainous areas carefully considered during flight plans?
4. Why do we have to operate a foreign air mission in hostile environments with total radio blackout between our troops if not a deliberate act of blind sacrifice?......what if they had crashed in Al-shabab controlled areas with all that ammunition?   

The mountain Kenya incident, in its best has revealed incompetence in communications coordination between our troops. In my "limited" understanding of the definition of Intelligence, I think its the knowledge relevant to the coordination of forces.

1. Through surveillance,
2. Target acquisition and,
3. Reconnaissance, first with our valuable assets and then the enemy or targets.

air surveillence drones donated to the UPDF by the US.

These pictures below, indicate the Dutch roll effect on the three Mi-24 that might have been caused by rough winds circulating around Mt. Kenya. 

most of the airmen in this bird were all in good health condition.

this Mi-24 was found almost at the top of Mt. Kenya.

 only this Mi-17 military troop transporter got to its destination in Garrisa due to its weather resilience.