Botswana Defence Force Air Wing

Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
200px Botswana Defence Force Air Wing roundel
Active	1977 – present
Country	Botswana
Part of	Botswana Defence Force
Insignia
Ensign	100px
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Canadair CF-5
Helicopter	Bell 412SP, AS 350 Ecureuil
Reconnaissance	Elbit Hermes 450, IAI Silver Arrow 180
Trainer	Pilatus PC-7 Mk II
Transport	Beechcraft Super King Air Britten-Norman Defender, CASA C-212 Aviocar CASA CN-235, Cessna O-2 Skymaster Bombardier Global Express, C-130 Hercules

The Botswana Defence Force Air Wing is the air arm of the Botswana Defence Force of Botswana in southern Africa.

Overview

Two BDF Air Wing C-130s

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

All squadrons are designated with a Z, which is used as a designation for "squadron". The main base is near Molepolole and was built by mostly foreign contractors between 1992 and 1996. The base is a multi-stage project that included runways, taxiways, extensive shelter and ordnance storage facilities, a headquarters facility and a large complex of living quarters and support buildings. Sometimes referred to as the "Eagle" project, the base has received continual improvements since its inception. Other airports used are Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at Gaborone and Francistown. The airfield near Maun is used as a forward operating location by propeller aircraft as well as there fighters.

The backbone of the Air Wing consists of a squadron of former Canadian 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 the 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 C-130B Hercules. The latest addition to the transport fleet was an ex-AMARC C-130 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, including 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.

Botswana is also believed to operate Elbit Systems Silver Arrow and Elbit Hermes 450 UAVs.

Aircraft

Current inventory

A Botswana Defence Force CF-5 on display

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
Canadair CF-5	Canada	fighter	CF-5A	10	licensed-built variant of the Northrop F-5
Transport
Gulfstream IV	United States	VIP transport	G-IV	1
Lockheed C-130	United States	transport	C-130B	3
CASA C212	Spain	transport		2
CN-235	France / Indonesia	transport		2
Beechcraft King Air 200	United States	multi-engine trainer		1
Helicopters
Eurocopter AS350	France	utility / liaison		10
Bell 412	United States	utility		6
Trainer aircraft
Canadair CF-5	Canada	conversion trainer	CF-5D	5	licensed-built variant of the Northrop F-5
Pilatus PC-7	Switzerland	trainer	Mk II	5

Future

The BDF Air Wing is reportedly interested in acquiring the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet to replace it's F-5s.

Retired aircraft

• BAC Strikemaster
• Britten-Norman Trislander
• Hawker Siddeley HS.125
• Scottish Aviation Bulldog
• Short Skyvan

Accidents and incidents

• On 27 June 2014 The Botswana Defence Force Air Arm has lost a AS350 Ecureuil helicopter which crashed on during a routine training at Thebephatshwa Air Base. Two pilots who were on board the aircraft, were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Organization

• Z1 Transport Squadron – Maparangwane Air Base (Thebephatshwa/Molepolole)
• Z3 Transport(Liaison) Squadron, Cessna O-2A – Francistown Airport
• Z7 Training Squadron, Pilatus PC-7MkII – Maparangwane Air Base (Thebephatshwa/Molepolole)
• Z10 Transport Squadron, Lockheed C-130, Casa 212 and CN235 – Maparangwane Air Base (Thebephatshwa/Molepolole)
• Z12 Transport Squadron – Francistown Airport
• Z21 Transport Squadron, Bell 412 – Maparangwane Air Base (Thebephatshwa/Molepolole)
• Z23 Transport/Helicopter Squadron, AS-350 – Maparangwane Air Base (Thebephatshwa/Molepolole)
• Z28 Fighter Squadron, CF-5 – Maparangwane Air Base (Thebephatshwa/Molepolole)
• VIP Flight Squadron – Sir Seretse Khama International Airport

Maparangwane Air Base and Francistown are the only full airbases in Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is a civilian airport and Francistown Airport is a joint civilian/military airfield with ownership by the BDF since 2011.

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.