The United States Donates a C-130 Hercules Military Transport Aircraft To The Botswana Defense Force
The United States donated a Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft worth $30 million to the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) air wing last week as part of the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.
This delivery, which will strengthen Botswana’s ability to support defense, humanitarian, and emergency response missions within its borders and throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was marked by a ceremony at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, following the African Defense Chiefs Conference, which brought together more than 30 countries to discuss security challenges and a path forward. The event was attended by senior officials from the US Embassy, AFRICOM, and the Botswana government and defense forces.
In his statement at the ceremony, US Ambassador to Botswana Howard Van Vranken said, “In this symbolic transfer of the C-130H aircraft, we reaffirm our shared commitment to security and stability in the region. This aircraft not only represents advanced technological capability, but also stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between our nations.”
Van Vranken continued by stating that “the arrival of this C-130 Hercules marks a renewal of Botswana’s strategic airlift capability. This aircraft, known for its reliability and versatility, can carry twice the cargo and more passengers than the smaller Casa 235. Additionally, it can fly 30 percent faster and twice as far without refueling – making it an invaluable asset for Botswana’s defense and humanitarian missions.”
26 September 2006. They were returning home after a one-year deployment to the Darfur region where they were part of the African Union peacekeeping mission / Photo by Capt. Erin Dorrance, United States Air Force
Following the handover ceremony, the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft flew to Thebephatshwa Airport in Kweneng District, where the Z10 Transport Squadron is based. This fleet currently only operates C212-300, C212-400, and CN235-300M aircraft. The new aircraft, which has twice the operational range and is 30% faster than existing CASAs, will allow the Z10 Transport Squadron to respond more effectively to national and regional challenges such as disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, and logistics support. Furthermore, the aircraft will help to fill the void left by three C-130B aircraft purchased from the United States in the 1990s, the last of which was decommissioned last year.