The US Embassy in Gaborone announced that the aircraft arrived in Botswana on May 24 and was officially handed over at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport on June 27. The aircraft, valued at $30 million (400 million Pula), was provided under the United States Air Force Excess Defence Articles program.
US Ambassador to Botswana Howard Van Vranken emphasized the significance of the transfer, stating, “The delivery of this aircraft demonstrates the collaborative efforts between the US and Botswana towards ensuring peace, security, and prosperity in the region.” He added that the C-130H will play a crucial role in regional missions, including delivering humanitarian aid and supporting peacekeeping operations.
“This donation enhances Botswana’s strategic airlift capabilities and supports your national and regional objectives. From Botswana’s track record of utilising the older C-130B aircraft, this new addition will undoubtedly play pivotal roles in a variety of missions, including delivering humanitarian aid and supporting peacekeeping missions — much as the C-130B did for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique.
“We look forward to seeing the Hercules aircraft flying safely in many missions that benefit both Botswana and the broader SADC region,” he said.
Botswana’s Minister of Defence and Security, Kagiso Mmusi, expressed his satisfaction with the timing of the aircraft’s arrival, noting that it replaces the last C-130B, which had been grounded after 25 years of service. He highlighted the aircraft’s versatility in disaster response, particularly given the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related natural disasters in the region.
According to Mmusi,“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. Grounding of the C-130B last year has therefore greatly degraded the BDF’s operational capability. Hence my earlier remark that receiving the C-130H could not have come at a better time.”
Major General Hendrick Thuthu Rakgantswana, Chief of Botswana’s Air Arm Command, acknowledged the importance of the new aircraft but also stressed the need for additional units and spare parts to ensure continuous operational capability. He urged officials to engage with the US government for further support.
The BDF has a history of utilizing C-130B aircraft for various missions, including supporting United Nations and African Union operations, SADC air power exercises, and international Special Forces exercises. The addition of the C-130H is expected to bolster these efforts, reinforcing Botswana’s strategic airlift capabilities and its role in regional and international peace and security initiatives.
