[2] For the first few years of the TPDF, the army was even smaller than the disbanded 2,000-strong Tanganyika Rifles, the air force was minuscule, and no navy had yet been formed.

It appears that the new TPDF had three battalions by August 1965, stationed at Nachingwea, Colito Barracks (now called Lugalo) five miles outside Dar es Salaam, and Tabora, plus the yet to be fully integrated Zanzibari force of about 1,000.

Sarakikya, trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, who was promoted from lieutenant to brigadier in 1964 and became the force's first commander.

'[9] War broke out between Uganda and Tanzania in October 1978, with several Ugandan attacks across the border culminating in an invasion of the Kagera Salient.

[19] Major General David Musuguri was appointed commander of the TPDF's 20th Division and tasked with overseeing the advance into Uganda.

[28] When the TPDF began returning en masse to Tanzania, only a small number of soldiers were demobilised, contrary to public expectations.

Military commanders then began making accommodations to render the wartime expansions of the army permanent, creating new units and divisional headquarters.

Some in the military hierarchy expressed disapproval in light of Tanzania's bleak financial situation, and the country's depressed economy eventually forced the TPDF to disband many of the extra units.

[14] Nevertheless, the TPDF retained a large number of officers in the standing army, with the assumption that they could be used to command militiamen in the event they needed to be called back into service.

[36] As it was following an international policy of non-alignment,[37] Tanzania procured aircraft and trainers from a variety of countries, most notably China, Canada,[38] and the Soviet Union.

[39][a] Furthermore, the country's Air Defence had access to SA-3 surface-to-air missiles,[39] SA-7 MANPADS,[42] 14.5mm and 37mm anti-aircraft guns,[40][43] and ground support equipment—including early-warning radars.

During a visit to Zimbabwe in March 2014, Kapwani commended Zimbabweans for 'remaining resolute and firmly safeguarding the country's sovereignty despite the suffering brought on by illegal Western sanctions.

General Kapwani, who was then the chair of the SADC Standing Aviation Committee, said he was in Zimbabwe to share experiences and strengthen relations.

On October 1, 2015 a K-8 trainer jet of Tanzania Air Force Command crashed into the sea killing both pilots.

The closing ceremony of the joint Tanzanian-Chinese exercise Beyond/Transcend 2014 was held on November 14, 2014, at Kigamboni Naval Base attended by guests that included China’s ambassador to Tanzania, the Chief of the TPDF, and the heads of the navy and air force.