The United States has donated nearly $1 million worth of C-130 Hercules spares to Botswana to ensure its aircraft are well maintained. The US donated a surplus C-130H in May 2024 and has pledged another two.
Speaking at the spares handover ceremony on 15 January at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, US Ambassador to Botswana Howard Vranken, said the spares handover is a celebration of the enduring partnership between the United States and Botswana, specifically the C-130 programme that began more than 30 years ago. “We are commemorating this partnership with the delivery of nearly 13 million Pula worth of brand new C-130 aircraft maintenance parts gifted from the United States government to the Botswana Defence Force.”
Vranken said that since Botswana received its first three C-130B military aircraft from the United States over 30 years ago, US forces have trained shoulder-to-shoulder with the BDF as they conducted numerous missions in and around Botswana, and the region writ large.
More recently, in early 2023 Botswana was competitively selected to receive an upgraded C-130H model aircraft through the Excess Defence Articles programme, of which one aircraft was delivered in May 2024.
“This current parts donation furthers the BDF’s ability to prevent and respond to crises, such as humanitarian and disaster relief, or combatting violent extremist groups on the continent. The C-130 is truly a multipurpose aircraft that supports national, regional, and global interests, and we could not be prouder to support that effort in partnership with the BDF through their enduring C-130 programme.”
“Although the US grants the aircraft and provides supplementary training, the Botswana Defence Force has done an incredible job of maintaining the aircraft, staying current on all pilot and crew trainings, conducting all necessary inspections and adhering to the most rigorous safety standards. The BDF uses the aircraft for real, tough, important missions in Southern Africa, and the United States is proud to stand with such a strong, capable partner in the Botswana Defence Force,” Vranken continued.
“As any aircraft maintainer will tell you, an air force’s ability to operationally stay in the fight is largely reliant on readily available spare parts, and that is what the United States seeks to bolster with this donation of over 12 000 parts here today. From O-rings to altimeter test kits, air compressors to lubricants, to massive propeller maintenance workstations, every part matters in maintaining the C-130’s capability.”
In total, 26 pallets of brand-new maintenance equipment arrived in Botswana. Under the leadership of the BDF Air Arm and the Air Logistics Squadron, Batswana leaders and logisticians unloaded, inventoried, and stored the 12 000 items of equipment within their aircraft hangar, maintenance bay, and storage facilities at Thebephatswa Air Base.
“Your work will greatly benefit the 10th Squadron’s strategic airlift capability. And, I understand you have already used the C130H for important missions related to the peacekeeping operations in northern Mozambique, to collect medicines in Zambia and distribute them in Botswana, and to participate in humanitarian exercises with SADC partners. We are delighted that Botswana is putting this aircraft to good use,” Vranken said.
In February 2025, Botswana was approved to receive two additional C-130H aircraft from the United States, each valued at over $12 million.
The C-130H that was donated in 2024 is worth $30 million. 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.
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.
