Lesotho Defence Force
| Lesotho Defence Force | |
|---|---|
|
Coats of arms of Lesotho | |
| Active | 1978-present |
| Country | Lesotho |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt Gen Tlali Kamoli |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | Bell/Agusta-Bell 412, Bo 105 |
| Trainer | Cessna 182Q |
| Transport | CASA C-212 Aviocar |
The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) is the army and air force of Lesotho.
There is no conscription in Lesotho. Of 400,457 (2005 est.) males age 18-49, the CIA estimates 162,857 are fit for military service. Military expenditures in 2004 were $32.3 million, representing 2.3% of the country's GDP.[1]
The Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defence Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs. In 2001, under an agreement with India, an Indian Army Training Team (IATT) started training the LDF. In August 2014 the army attempted a military coup.
The Force currently has a strength of approximately 3,100, including female soldiers. All commissioned officers must first serve in the enlisted ranks for at least three years.
It was led by controversial three-star general, Lt. Gen. Tlali Kamoli, who in 2014 became embroiled in what was widely considered to be a 'coup attempt'.Kamoli was later forced into retirement and replaced by Khothatso Motsomotso in 2016, after the Southern African Development community (SADC) recommended his removal from the post.
Lesotho Defence Force air wing
The Lesotho air wing was an originally a 1978 offshoot of the parliamentary police mobile unit and began operations with two Short Skyvan twin turboprop STOL transports; a leased Cessna A152 Aerobat; two MBB Bo 105 helicopters; and a Bell 47G helicopter converted to turboshaft power. Two Mil Mi-2 twin turbine helicopters were donated by Libya in 1983 but were retired by 1986.
Deliveries of four Bell 412 helicopters were delayed in 1983 to 1986 because of South Africa's influence. This changed when a 1986 military coup resulted in new security agreements with South Africa being signed. In the mid-1980s the air wing was renamed the Lesotho Defence Force. In 1989 the Skyvans were replaced by two CASA C-212 Aviocar light turboprop transports; one immediately crashed, requiring a third to be delivered in 1992. A fifth Bell 412 (an EP model) was delivered in May 1998 to replace one written off the previous January.
Aircraft
Current inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | ||||||
| CASA C-212 | Spain | utility / transport | 2[2] | |||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Bell 206 | United States | trainer | 1[2] | |||
| Bell 412 | United States | utility | 3[2] | |||
| MBB Bo 105 | Germany | utility / scout | 1[2] | |||
Retired aircraft
References
- ↑ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 22". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
- World Aircraft Information Files. Brightstar Publishing, London. File 340 Sheet 05