The Botswana Defence Force took custody of a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft delivered by the U.S. in a transfer event during the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Gaborone. Understood for its toughness and versatility, the $30 million C-130 is utilised in a variety of missions, including battling wildfires, delivering humanitarian aid, and performing search, rescue and defence assignments.
It will also improve the Botswana Defence Force’s (BDF) ability to react to regional challenges, including peacekeeping operations, catastrophe relief and logistical support. “This C-130H couldn’t have come at a more reasonable time than at this moment,” Thomas Kagiso Mmusi, Botswana’s minister of defence and security, spoke at the handover ceremony. “Just a year ago, the last of the C-130Bs, which have served us fabulously for a quarter of a century, was grounded. The BDF has diligently served a variety of mission sets using these aircraft over the years.”
The C-130s Botswana previously employed were donated by the U.S. in the 1990s. They were used to supply airlift support to African Union missions, the United Nations Mission in Sudan and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique. They were also employed in SADC Air Power exercises and special forces exerted with international forces, Mmusi said.
“The transfer of this plane from the United States to Botswana is a testament to how the U.S. and Botswana operate together to further a shared obligation to peace, security and prosperity in the region,” U.S. Ambassador to Botswana Howard Van Vranken expressed at the ceremony. “The United States is honoured to play a role in ensuring that the Botswana Defense Force can perform vital missions not only in Botswana but when called upon regionally as well.”
On July 11, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi pledged to continue supporting Mozambique in its war against violent extremism in the Cabo Delgado province. All SADC troops were predicted to leave the region in mid-July. “In the military and security area, we are going to transfer our know-how and expertise because we are to you what you are to us,” Masisi stated. “And just to make it transparent, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Mozambique in the search for peace, so any instability such as we noticed, we will be ready to intervene.”
The C-130 Hercules can adjust two pilots, a flight engineer, a navigator, and a loadmaster. It can fly at rates up to 589 kilometres per hour with a capacity of up to 5,470 kilometres with a normal load and about 3,800 kilometres with a maximum load. According to Van Vranken, the C-130 is 30% quicker than the commonly used Casa 235 transport aircraft and can pass twice as far without refuelling. The aircraft is powered by four turboprop machines that deliver 4,300 horsepower. It includes a wingspan of just more than 40 meters, and a height of about 30 meters and can hold up to 36,100 kilograms of fuel.
Botswana and the U.S. have harboured strong bilateral ties for decades. In June, Botswana hosted the 2024 African Chiefs of Defense Conference for the first time. Co-hosted by U.S. Africa Command, the event brought together top military leaders from Africa and the world to exchange knowledge, encourage collaborations and foster collaboration toward addressing shared security and peace. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. contributed millions of dollars and a pair of isolation facilities to Botswana.
