Botswana Defence Force Air Wing Explained

Unit Name:Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
Country: Botswana
Type:Air force
Role:Aerial warfare
Size:5,000 personnel
Command Structure:Botswana Defence Force
Garrison:Gaborone
Garrison Label:Headquarters
Commander1:President Mokgweetsi Masisi
Commander1 Label:Commander-in-Chief
Identification Symbol Label:Roundel
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Fin flash
Aircraft Helicopter:Bell 412SP, AS 350 Ecureuil
Aircraft Recon:Elbit Hermes 450, IAI Silver Arrow 180
Aircraft Trainer:Pilatus PC-7 Mk II
Aircraft Transport:C-130 Hercules, Beechcraft Super King Air, Britten-Norman Defender, CASA C-212 Aviocar, CASA CN-235, Cessna O-2 Skymaster, Bombardier Global Express

The Botswana Defence Force Air Arm is the air force of the Botswana Defence Force. The Air Arm was formed in 1977 and squadrons are designated with a Z, meaning "squadron".

History

The Air Wing was formed in 1977 and is organisationally part of the Botswana Defence Force.[1]

All squadrons are designated with a Z, which stands for "squadron".[2] The main base is near Molepolole and was built by mostly foreign contractors between 1992 and 1996.[3] Other airports used are Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and Francistown International Airport.

The backbone of the Air Wing consists of a squadron of former Canadian Canadair CF-116s which are locally designated as BF-5s. Thirteen ex-Canadian CF-116s (ten single-seater CF-5As and three trainer CF-5Bs) were ordered in 1996 to replace BAC Strikemasters, with another three single-seaters and two dual-seaters delivered in 2000. The aircraft were re-designated OJ-1 through 16. For transport, the Air Wing uses Britten-Norman Defenders, CASA C-212 Aviocars, CASA CN-235s and Lockheed C-130B Hercules. The latest addition to the transport fleet was a former U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules to complement the two existing aircraft.

A combination of Bell 412EP and 412SP helicopters are operated by Z21 and perform a variety of functions; search and rescue, medivac, anti-poaching and troop/VIP transport. In 1993, nine ex-US Army/AMARC Cessna O-2As were delivered for use against poaching.

In 2011, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd announced that the Botswana Defence Force had selected the PC-7 MkII turboprop trainer aircraft to replace their Pilatus PC-7 fleet which has been in service since 1990. The contract value is approximately 40 million Swiss francs to procure a fleet of five PC-7 MkII turboprop trainer aircraft, with ground-based training system including computer-based training, spares, support equipment, as well as pilot and technician conversion training elements. The contract was signed in Gaborone on 13 April 2011.[4]

Botswana is also believed to operate Elbit Systems Silver Arrow[5] and Elbit Hermes 450 UAVs.[6]

Accidents and incidents

Organisation

Air Bases

Maparangwane Air Base is the only full air base in Botswana. Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is a civilian airport that hosts the VIP jets and Francistown Airport is a joint civilian/military airfield with ownership by the BDF since 2011.[11]

Air defence command and control system

In 2005 Botswana Defence Force (BDF) awarded the Spanish company Indra a €7.1 million contract for the development and implementation of a full air defence command and control system. The project included the development and implementation of an operational control centre, composed of a total of nine air traffic tracking and control posts to process and concentrate the information regarding the country's air space being provided by air surveillance radars, radio communication links with the airships, and air traffic management civil systems.[12] [13]

Aircraft

Current inventory

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Combat aircraft
Canadair CF-5Canadafighter11[14] license-built variant of the Northrop F-5
Transport
Lockheed C-130 HerculesUnited StatestransportC-130B/H4[15]
CASA C212Spaintransport 3STOL capable aircraft
CASA/IPTN CN-235Spain / Indonesiatransport2
Beechcraft Super King AirUnited Statestransport2001
Britten-Norman BN-2United Kingdomutility1
Dornier 328GermanyTransport 1
Bombardier Global ExpressCanadaGlobal 50001[16]
Helicopter
Bell 412United Statesutility6
Eurocopter AS350Franceutility / liaison 10
Trainer aircraft
Canadair CF-5Canadaconversion trainerCF-5D[17] 4license-built variant of the Northrop F-5
Pilatus PC-7SwitzerlandtrainerMk II5

Retired aircraft

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force were the Gulfstream IV, Cessna 150, Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, Scottish Aviation Bulldog, and Short Skyvan.[18]

Future acquisitions

The Botswana Defence Force Air Wing has been considering a replacement for the BF-5 since 2013, due to the fact that the Canadair CF-5s are old, built in the 1970s, and are increasingly hard to maintain and to find spare parts for them.[19] A report in 2013 by the then the head of the BDF’s air arm, Major General Odirile Mashinyana, recognized the need to replace the aircraft, but also advised that upgrading the BF-5s would allow time to save funds for a well chosen successor.[20] Since that time, the KAI T-50 Golden Eagle,[21] used versions of the F-16, and the Saab Gripen were all considered.[22] The most recent, and most likely, potential replacement is the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited new HAL Tejas fighter.[23]

Ranks

See main article: Military ranks of Botswana.

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Botswana Defence Force . 2024-05-06 . online.bdf.org.bw.
  2. Web site: Orbats . 2024-05-06 . www.scramble.nl.
  3. Web site: Botswana Air Force . 2024-05-06 . www.globalsecurity.org.
  4. Web site: Botswana buys Swiss trainers. upi.com business news. 13 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110829050654/http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/04/25/Botswana-buys-Swiss-trainers/UPI-51061303744131. 29 August 2011. live.
  5. Web site: Botswana builds UAV surveillance force . 20 March 2001 . Flightglobal . Reed Business Information . According to sources in Botswana, the southern African country recently signed a contract to purchase at least three short-range systems from Silver Arrow . 30 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030752/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2001/03/20/127601/botswana-builds-uav-surveillance-force.html . 30 September 2007 . live .
  6. Web site: Singapore seals deal for Hermes 450 UAVs . Peter La Franchi . 5 June 2007 . Flightglobal . Reed Business Information . 9 June 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031626/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/06/05/214395/singapore-seals-deal-for-hermes-450-uavs.html . 30 September 2007 . live .
  7. https://www.google.co.bw/search?q=bdf+pc7+crash&oq=bdf+pc7+crash&aqs=chrome..69i57.5424j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8# "BDF assists plane crash victims."
  8. Web site: A Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Ecureuil helicopter crashed this morning (27/6/14). Two pilots who were on board the aircraft were taken to Thebephatshwa Hospital in a conscious condition.. Prince Kangwane. 21 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095005/http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/news-details.php?nid=12460. 21 September 2017. dead.
  9. http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=66563&dir=2017/february/10 "BDF plane crashes, kills 3."
  10. 989848889481146369. BWGovernment. PRESS RELEASE . 27 April 2018.
  11. Web site: Armed forces inherit old Francistown Airport. Patricia Edwin. 21 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095639/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=169&dir=2011%2FSeptember%2FThursday8. 21 September 2017. dead.
  12. Web site: Indra is awarded Botswana's air defence control system. 21 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720142253/http://www.indra.es/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FRender&inifile=futuretense.ini&c=SalaPrensa_FA&cid=1103830050408&p=1083830063846&pid=1083830063846&Language=en_GB&mes=January&ay=2005&retorno=Url%3AlistadoProyecto. 20 July 2011. live.
  13. Web site: Botswana (Botswana) – Jane's Land-Based Air Defence. Janes.com. 4 April 2011. 21 September 2017.
  14. Web site: World Air Forces 2023. Flightglobal Insight. 2023 . 23 November 2022. registration.
  15. News: Çetiner . Yusuf . The United States Donates a C-130 Hercules Military Transport Aircraft To The Botswana Defense Force . 13 July 2024 . Overt Defense . 8 July 2024.
  16. Web site: Registration Details for OK1 (Government of Botswana) Global 5000 - PlaneLogger. planelogger.com . 17 April 2022.
  17. Flight International . 16–22 November 2004. World Air Forces 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130516072559/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%202339.html . 2013-05-16 . 46 . flightglobal.com . 31 May 2015.
  18. Web site: World Air Forces 1981 pg. 328 . flightglobal.com . 1 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180102073741/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%202500.html . 2 January 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  19. Patrick Kenyette, May 30, 2023, Botswana in negotiation with India for Tejas aircraft – updated June 12, 2023.
  20. Ekene Lionel, March 25, 2021, Contest for Botswana’s new fighter jet gathers momentum, Military Africa.
  21. https://www.timesaerospace.aero/features/defence/south-koreas-eagle-swoops-on-botswana South Korea's Eagle swoops on Botswana
  22. https://www.timesaerospace.aero/features/defence/botswana-looks-to-india-for-fighter-upgrade Botswana looks to India for fighter upgrade
  23. https://www.africaintelligence.com/southern-africa-and-islands/2023/03/16/gaborone-looks-to-procure-indian-hal-fighter-aircraft,109924094-art Gaborone looks to procure Indian HAL fighter aircraft