Kenyan military is in talks with Hungarian Magnus Aircraft to acquire light aircraft to monitor it’s borders and fight poachers.
The aircraft will be based on Magnus Fusion light sport aircraft made with composite material.
Kenya is looking to equip their air force and border guard with the Magnus Fusion aircraft, against poachers and thieves or even to monitor livestock in their national parks.
In the ongoing discussions, Kenya is also looking at locally assembling the aircraft in Magnus aircraft plant in the country.
Although, the Fusion aircraft is used mainly by private individuals, and their certification was for private use only, however, oweing to their adaptability, the aircraft can be reconfigured for a variety of military missions.
Nigeria is buying at least twenty aircraft from Magnus Aircraft that will be used in the war against the terrorist organization Boko Haram.
These acquisitions are part of the 2023 Budget proposal submitted by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly.
The air force will procure the ISR variant, while the Nigerian Army will get at least three MF-212 ISR and attack aircraft versions.
When approved, the aircraft will be the Nigerian Army’s first fixed-wing aviation assets to aid its fight against Violent Extremist Organizations (VEO).
On 22 January, a Hungarian delegate consisting of the Hungarian Consul-General to Nigeria, Endre Peter Deri, and the Chief Executive Officer, Hungarian Magnus Aircraft Manufacturing Factory, Mr Laszo Boros, visited the Headquarters NAF in Abuja, they were received by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and signed an agreement that includes local assembly of the aircraft.
Magnus Fusion uses ordinary petrol instead of the more expensive kerosene.