Kuwait and it's somewhat strangely shrinking air force

For a Gulf State, the Kuwaiti Air Force is a strange one.

Firstly mid-1990s they’ve not pumped billions into new defence toys unlike say UAE, Saudi Arabia or even Oman. There’s been some improvements (AH-64Ds and revitalisation of transport fleet as well as expansion of Patriot SAM capability).

Secondly their fighter fleet is on a numerical downward trend: 50+ Mirage F1/A-4KU replaced by 40 F/A-18C/D which are scheduled to replaced by 28 Rafale/Eurofighters.

Even current F/A-18 fleet does not seem 100% operational – Scramble lists several airframes in storage. F/A-18s have been upgraded though and all up 39 survive.

The trainer and most of the helo fleets are old and delivered pre-1992 (Gazelle, Puma, Hawk, Tucano).

The army is also pre-2000 gear and there’s some obsolescent equipment there too (e.g 1990 vintage M84s).

Whilst Iraqi threat is gone, the Iranian one is still bubbling along.

Furthermore the other Gulf states are involved in an arms race, yet Iran has been stagnating militarily since 1980.

In all instances, all the countries are under the US defence umbrella against Iranian aggression.