Botswana Defence Force Air Wing

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Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
Ensign of the Botswana Defence Force Air Wing
Active	1977 - present
Country	Botswana
Part of	Botswana Defence Force
Insignia
Roundel

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

Contents 1 Overview 2 Aircraft inventory[1] 3 References 4 References

[edit] Overview

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

All squadrons are designated with a Z, which has no meaning but is used as a designation for "squadron". The main base is Molepolole and was built mostly by foreign contractors between 1992 and 1996. Other bases used are Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at Gaborone and Francistown.

The backbone of the Air Wing is formed by ex Canadian CF-116s which are locally designated as CF-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. For transport the Air Wing uses BN-2A/B, C212, CN235 and C-130Bs. Latest addition to the transport fleet was an ex-AMARC C-130B to complement the two existing aircraft.

In 2000, three additional AS350BA helicopters were bought for Z21, bringing the total to eight. The single Italian built AB412 has been replaced by a Bell 412EP in VIP-configuration. Z21 has a total of six Bell 412s of which the Bell412EP is being used by the VIP flight. Flying training is done on seven PC-7s. The VIP flight uses, besides the Bell 412, a Gulfstream and a Be 200. In 1993 nine ex US Army/AMARC O-2As were delivered for use against poaching.

Botswana is also believed to operate Silver Arrow [1] and Elbit Hermes 450 UAVs. [2]

[edit] Aircraft inventory^[1]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[2][3]	Notes
Beechcraft Super King Air	United States	staff transport	Super King Air 200	1
Bell 412	United States	utility helicopter VIP helicopter	412 412EP	4 1
Britten-Norman Islander	United Kingdom	transport	BN-2A BN-2A-3	8 2
Canadair CF-5 Freedom Fighter	Canada	fighter advanced trainer	CF-5A CF-5D	13 5
CASA C-212 Aviocar	Spain	transport	C-212-300	2
CASA CN-235	Spain  Indonesia	transport	CN-235	2
Cessna O-2 Skymaster	United States	liaison	O-2	5
Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil	France  Germany  Spain	utility helicopter	AS 350B	9
Gulfstream IV	United States	VIP transport	G-IV	1
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	transport	C-130B	3
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer	Switzerland	trainer	PC-7	6

Aircraft withdrawn since 2001 include:

• Shorts SC.7 Skyvan 3M transport - 2
• BAe 125-800 VIP transport - 1
• Cessna 152 trainer - 2

[edit] References

ISS

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[edit] References