Botswana looks set to receive another two C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from the United States after Congress approved the proposed donation.
The US Embassy in Botswana on 5 August said the United States government had formally notified Congress of the proposed donation of two additional C-130H Hercules, each valued at $12 million.
Pending aircraft inspections and negotiations on additional investments by both countries, the aircraft could eventually join the C-130H delivered in June 2024, which is already flying with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Air Wing.
The US Embassy said the proposed donation would further strengthen Botswana’s strategic airlift capabilities for humanitarian response, peacekeeping, and regional security missions.
“These aircraft showcase the powerful partnership between the United States and Botswana and our shared commitment to advancing peace and security across Africa,” the Embassy concluded.
The C-130H that was donated last year is worth $30 million and was delivered under the United States Air Force Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft (OM4) arrived in Botswana on 24 May 2024 and was formally handed over at Sir Seretse Khama International airport in a ceremony on 27 June.
At the time of the handover, the United States said it would enhance Botswana’s ability to support military, humanitarian, and emergency response missions locally and within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The Botswana Defence Force has operated C-130s for many years. It acquired three former US C-130B Hercules for Z10 Squadron from the North Carolina Air Guard through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Programme. One (OM1) was subsequently placed in storage, leaving two (OM2 and OM3) in active service until the grounding of one in 2024.
Since 1997 the C-130B fleet has been the backbone of BDF air operations. It has been employed locally, regionally and internationally as one of Botswana’s instruments of national power. C-130 missions over the years have included supporting the United Nations mission in Sudan, African Union missions, SADC Mission in Mozambique operations, security cooperation exercises such as SADC air power exercises, and special forces exercises with international forces.
The US and Botswana enjoy close defence ties, something further illustrated in June when US soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group-Airborne and the BDF Special Forces Regiment (SFR) trained together during a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) at Thebephatshwa Air Base.
“JCETs strengthen BDF’s operational expertise and capacity to quickly respond to crises. They sustain collective combat readiness, enhancing BDF SFR’s ability to prevent, mitigate, and resolve armed conflict,” the US Embassy said. “JCET engagements with Botswana strengthen our partnership and mutual security interests, promoting regional security.”
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