Botswana plans to acquire two C-130H Hercules transport planes, each valued at $12 million, from the United States.
Pending aircraft inspections and negotiations on additional investments by both countries, the aircraft eventually will join the C-130H delivered in June 2024, which flies with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Air Wing. The U.S. 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 said.
The C-130H that Botswana acquired in 2024 was delivered under the U.S. Air Force Excess Defense Articles program. At the time of the handover, the U.S. said it would improve Botswana’s ability to support military, humanitarian and emergency response missions locally and within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The BDF has operated C-130s for many years. It acquired three C-130B Hercules for Z10 Squadron through the U.S. National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program.
Since 1997, the C-130B fleet has been the backbone of Botswana’s military air operations. The Armed Forces has employed them as an instrument of Botswana’s 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 C-130 entered service with the U.S. in 1956 and has been in production for 70 years. Experts have estimated that it will continue to be built for at least another decade.