Botswana Defence Force
Index
1. Order of battle
2. Overview
3. Defence economics
4. State of military forces
5. Country threat report
1. Botswana Defence Force Order of Battle
Total force strength | Army: 10 000 Air Force: 2 500 Paramilitary: 1 500 Total: 12 500 |
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Armour | 50: SK-105 Kurassier 24: FV101 Scorpion |
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APC/IFV/RECCE | 8: RAM-V-2 64: VBL 6: FV 103 Spartan 50: BTR-60 50: LAV-150 50: Piranha III |
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Artillery | 12: L-118 LG 105 mm 6: Model 56 105 mm 12: Soltam M71 155 mm 20: Aerostar SA 120 mm (MLR) |
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Mortar | 22: 81 mm 6: 120 mm |
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Anti armour | 6: TOW MILAN |
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Recoilless rifle | 30: Carl Gustav (84 mm) | |
Rocket launcher | RPG-7 | |
Air defence | 5: Javelin (Missile) 10: SA-16 (Missile) 12: SA-7 (Missile) 7: M-167 Vulcan (Gun) |
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Structure | 2 infantry brigades 1 armoured brigade (2 regiments) 1 engineer regiment 1 Commando battalion 1 Para and Presidential Guard battalion 2 field artillery brigades (3 regiments each) 1 air defence artillery brigade (2 regiments) 1 mechanical and electrical engineer regiment Signal Corps Medical Corps Ordnance Corps Armament Corps Force Training School |
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Vessels | 10: Panther airboats 2: Boston Whaler Raider class |
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Botswana Defence Force Air Wing | ||
Combat aircraft | 9: CF-5A Freedom Fighter (ex-Canadian Armed Forces) 6: CF-5D Tiger II (ex-Canadian Armed Forces) |
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Trainer aircraft | 5: PC-7 Mk II (ordered April 2011 to replace PC-7s; deliveries concluded 2012) | |
Transport aircraft | 3: C-130B Hercules (ex-USAF) 10: BN-2 Defender 2: C-212 Aviocar 2: CN235M-300 5: Cessna O-2 Skymaster 1: Dornier Do 328 |
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Ultralight | ?: Aviatika 890U | |
VIP | 1: Beech 200 King Air 1: Gulfstream IV 1: BD-700 Global Express/Global 5000 |
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Transport helicopter | 5: Bell 412 8: AS 350B Ecureuil |
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Structure | Air Wing HQ: Technical Training School ATC VIP Air Logistics Maintenance 8 squadrons |
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Squadrons | Fighter: Z28 Squadron at Thebephatshwa with CF-5A/Ds
Transport: Z10 Squadron at Thebephatshwa with C-130Bs, CN235s, C212s; Z12 Squadron at Francistown with BN-2 Islanders; Z3 Squadron at Francistown with Cessna O-2 Skymaster Trainer: Z7 Squadron at Thebephatshwa with PC-7 Mk IIs Helicopter: Z21 Squadron at Francistown with Bell 412; Z23 Squadron at Thebephatshwa with AS 350 Ecureuil VIP: Gulfstream IV, King Air 200, Bell 412, Global 5000 |
 2. Botswana Defence Forces overview:
President: Ian Khama
Minister of Defence: Shaw Kgathi
Commander of the Defence Forces: Lieutenat-General Gaolothe Galebotswe
Member of: UN, Commonwealth, AU, AfDB, Southern African Development Community Standby Brigade
Structure: The President (Seretse Khama Ian Khama) is Commander-in-Chief of the Botswana Defence Forces. He acts either directly or through a Defence Council, of whose members he appoints. The Commander of the Botswana Defence Force and all officers above the rank of Lieutenant Colonel are appointed by the President.
3. Botswana defence economics
Defence budget percentage per GDP (2000-2010)
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
DB% per GDP | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
Defence budget per US$ Mil (2000-2011)
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Â 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
DB per US$ Mil | 315 | Â 385 | Â 411 | 396 | 366 | 332 | 327 | 361 | 386 | 372 | 352 | 344 |
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Defence budget percentage growth (2000-2011)
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | Â 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
DB% growth | Â 22.2 | 6.8 | -3.6 | -7.6 | -9.3 | -1.5 | 10.4 | 6.9 | -3.6 | Â Â -5.4 | -2.3 |
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4. State of military forces
Botswana’s military is small but capable and is one of the most professional in the region, benefitting from a relatively large defence budget. During the mid-1990s Botswana upgraded its military significantly, with the acquisition of new aircraft, the construction of the Thebephatshwa air base and the purchase of armoured vehicles and artillery. Such militarisation was a cause for concern for Botswana’s neighbours but the country is politically stable. It is widely regarded as one of the most democratic and peaceful countries in southern Africa, enjoying healthy economic growth and social stability. Arguably the biggest risk the country is facing comes from the high rate of HIV/AIDS, which has dropped life expectancy considerably (around 25% of Botswana’s 2 million people have HIV/AIDS).
The country’s military is generally inward-looking and focused on things like anti-poaching activities and disaster management. However, it is developing a mechanised capability with light tanks and other armoured vehicles.
Although Botswana is a landlocked country, it has a number of waterways (notably the Chobe River and Okavango swamps) that need policing. The army therefore has a marine unit with patrol boats and river craft that deploy in support of anti-poaching operations and border patrol along Botswana’s waterways.
5. Country threat report
Threat type | Overview |
External | • Botswana is currently facing no external military threat. Political tensions do however linger between Botswana, Namibia, and Angola concerning the use of the Okavango Delta and the ownership of the Sedudu Island on the Chobe River. |
Internal | • Botswana is facing no internal security threat. |
Regional | • Political instability in Zimbabwe could affect Botswana‘s foreign security policy making. |
Political | • Botswana’s internal political structure has come under international scrutiny in recent years. |
Economic |  • Botswana’s economy is highly dependent on the export of natural minerals especially diamonds. Diamond price instability on the international market could affect Botswana’s economy negatively. |
Botswana Defence Force address:
Sir Seretse Khama Barracks
Private Bag X06
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: +267 366 2100/366 2775
Fax: +267 3932016
Web: www.gov.bw
Note: The information here is as accurate as possible but errors and ommissions may occur.