In mid-January 2026, the United States government completed the delivery to the Botswana Air Force (Air Arm Command – AAC) of a package of spare parts and maintenance equipment for C-130 Hercules aircraft, valued at nearly US$1 million, aimed at strengthening the operational availability of its tactical airlift fleet.
The transfer was formalized during a ceremony held at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, where the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana, Howard Vranken, officially handed over the equipment to local military authorities. The set of spare parts is estimated at 13 million pula and marks a shift in the bilateral cooperation approach, prioritizing the operational sustainability of already fielded systems.
Maintenance package details
The shipment consists of 26 pallets containing more than 12,000 new components, whose reception, inventory, and storage were handled by personnel from the Air Force and the Air Logistics Squadron. The material was housed in specialized hangars and storage facilities at Thebephatswa Air Base.
Among the delivered items are O-rings, air compressors, lubricants, altimeter test kits for flight instrument calibration, and complete propeller maintenance stations. The latter allow on-site work on the four-bladed Hamilton Sundstrand 54H60 propellers used by the C-130, reducing the need to rely on external contractors.
Botswana’s C-130 fleet
The relationship between the United States and Botswana in military airlift dates back to 1997, when the African country inducted three C-130B aircraft from the North Carolina Air National Guard under the State Partnership Program of the National Guard Bureau. These aircraft, designated OM1, OM2, and OM3, served for years as the backbone of the country’s strategic airlift capability.
Over time, the fleet experienced progressive wear. The C-130B was withdrawn from operational service in 2023, creating a significant gap in Botswana’s strategic airlift capabilities.
To address this need, the United States transferred a C-130H Hercules in 2024 through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. The aircraft, designated OM4 and valued at US$30 million, arrived in Botswana on May 24, 2024, and was officially delivered on June 27 during a ceremony at the same international airport in Gaborone.
The C-130H features substantial improvements over the B variants, including Allison T56-A-15 engines, which provide better performance in high-temperature and high-altitude conditions typical of southern Africa. Compared to the CASA C-212 and CN-235 operated by Squadron Z10, the Hercules can carry twice the payload, fly at higher speeds, and double its operational range.
According to Ambassador Howard Vranken, the C-130H has already been employed in support of peacekeeping missions in northern Mozambique, as well as in regional logistics tasks, the transport of medical supplies from Zambia, and humanitarian exercises alongside SADC member countries.
It is also worth noting that in February 2025, the United States approved the transfer of two additional C-130H aircraft to Botswana, each valued at over US$12 million.
While the EDA program operates on an “as is, where is” basis, the spare parts package delivered in January 2026 seeks to reduce the initial logistical impact and facilitate the adoption of these aircraft. The material will help sustain the operations of OM4 and future Hercules aircraft while maintaining safety and availability standards.
The delivery of more than 12,000 spare parts reinforces the goal of providing the Botswana Defence Force with an autonomous maintenance capability, reducing reliance on external supply chains and strengthening the role of the Air Logistics Squadron at Thebephatswa.
With this initiative, cooperation between the United States and Botswana is being consolidated not only through the transfer of aircraft, but also through the technical support necessary to ensure the long-term operability of the C-130 Hercules fleet.
*Images for illustrative purposes.
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