Botswana and Kenya get a lift

The US has enhanced the transport capabilities of Kenya and Botswana with the handing over of aircraft to the two nations. Kenya is to receive 16 transport and scout helicopters, while Botswana has taken delivery of a Lockheed Martin C-130H transport.

Following Kenya president William Ruto’s state visit to the US in May, it was announced that the US would supply eight Bell UH-1 Huey transport helicopters and eight MD Helicopters MD500s from surplus stocks.

The first two UH-1s were delivered in July and, at the time of writing, were being prepared for service in Nairobi by a team of US Air Force technicians, Kenya Air Force (KAF) personnel and representatives from Bell. The remaining six aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by the end of August. The MD500s will be delivered in early 2025.

Although both types are elderly, they will constitute useful additions to Kenya’s helicopter fleet, which makes up by far the largest components of both the KAF and Kenya Army Aviation (KAA).

The KAF’s rotary-wing transport force currently consists of 10 Aerospatiale SA330 Pumas, seven UH-1H Huey IIs, three AgustaWestland AW139s, and a single Russian machine, a Mil Mi-171E.

Three Bell AH-1F Cobras, previously operated by Jordan, are the force’s only dedicated attack aircraft, although eight Airbus Helicopters H125M Fennecs can also be fitted to carry weapons.

KAA, meanwhile, has a substantial fleet of 33 MD500M/MD Scout Defenders plus six MD530F Cayuse Warrior light attack machines that can carry cannon and rocket pods.

The US has also said that it intends to upgrade Manda Bay airfield in northern Kenya, including the construction of a 10,000-foot runway.

Additionally, US President Biden intends to designate Kenya as a ‘Major Non-NATO Ally’, in recognition of Kenya’s close working relationship with the US military and defence civilians. It will be the first time that the US has given a sub-Saharan African nation this status.

Kenya’s main external threat comes in the form of Somalia-based Al-Shabaab Islamic militants over its northern border. The militants have raided Kenya’s northern provinces on several occasions in recent years, attacking military bases and killing or kidnapping civilians.

Kenya also contributes to several United Nations and African Union peacekeeping forces on the continent, providing another task for the country’s rotary-wing forces.

Meanwhile, the US has handed over a Lockheed Martin C-130H to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).

“This C-130H couldn’t have come at a better time than at this moment,” said Thomas Kagiso Mmusi, Botswana’s minister of defence and security. at the handover ceremony in June.

“Just a year ago, the last of the C-130Bs, which have served us fabulously for a quarter of a century, was grounded. The BDF has diligently performed a variety of mission sets using these aircraft over the years. These include airlift to support UN mission in Sudan, African Union missions and special forces exercises with international forces,”  Mmusi said.

"In this symbolic transfer of the C-130H aircraft, we reaffirm our shared commitment to security and stability in the region," said US ambassador Howard Van Vranken.

The aircraft will restore to the BDF enhanced airlift capabilities, allowing more effective responses to national and regional challenges, including the provision of humanitarian aid after natural disasters, peacekeeping operations, and logistical support.

Until the C-130H’s arrival, the BDF’s largest aircraft had been two CASA CN235 light transports. The C-130H can carry more than three times the load of the CN235s, with roughly 25 per cent greater range.

Botswana's acquisition of the aircraft follows its successful operation of three C-130B aircraft acquired from the United States in the 1990s. These aircraft played pivotal roles in delivering humanitarian aid and supporting the Southern Africa Development Community’s mission in Mozambique, flown and maintained by the Botswana Defence Force for 30 years until 2023, when they were retired from service.