Lesotho Defence Force
Encyclopedia
The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) is the army
and Air Wing
of Lesotho
.
There is no conscription
in Lesotho.
Of 400,457 (2005 est.) males age 18-49, the CIA https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lt.html estimates 162,857 are fit for military service.
Military expenditures: $32.3 million (2004)
2.3% (2004) of GDP.
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. By 2011, it is widely perceived that the LDF is well on its way to becoming a professional and apolitical force. Indeed, there has been no instance since the arrival of the IATT when the LDF has interfered with the political process. It also won approbation when, on 22 April 2009, its soldiers beat back a mercenary attack on the Prime Minister's residence.
The Force currently has a strength of approximately 3100. It has a fair representation of female soldiers. All commissioned officers have to first serve in the ranks for at least three years.
It is led by a three-star General, Lt Gen E T Motanyane.
Deliveries of one Bell and three Augusta-Bell AB 412 helicopters were delayed in 1983 to 1986 because of South Africa. This changed when a 1986 military coup resulted in new security agreements with Pretoria were 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 light turboprop transports, One crashed immediately, requiring a third which was delivered in 1992. A fifth Bell 412 (an EP model) was delivered in May 1998 to replace one written off in January 1998
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Bell 412
|
Italy
| Light utility Helicopter
|
| 3
| One written off in January 1998
|-----
| 212-300 Aviocar
|
Spain
| Light transport
|
| 2
| One crashed in 1989
|-----
| Cessna 182
|
United States
| Light transport
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Bo 105
|
Germany
| Light utility helicopter
|105C
| 2
|
|-----
| Bell 47G
| United States
| Light helicopter
|
| 1
|
|-----
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
and Air Wing
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
of Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
.
There is no conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
in Lesotho.
Of 400,457 (2005 est.) males age 18-49, the CIA https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lt.html estimates 162,857 are fit for military service.
Military expenditures: $32.3 million (2004)
2.3% (2004) of GDP.
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. By 2011, it is widely perceived that the LDF is well on its way to becoming a professional and apolitical force. Indeed, there has been no instance since the arrival of the IATT when the LDF has interfered with the political process. It also won approbation when, on 22 April 2009, its soldiers beat back a mercenary attack on the Prime Minister's residence.
The Force currently has a strength of approximately 3100. It has a fair representation of female soldiers. All commissioned officers have to first serve in the ranks for at least three years.
It is led by a three-star General, Lt Gen E T Motanyane.
Lesotho Defence force air wing
The Lesotho air wing was an originally a 1978 offshoot of the parliamentary police mobile unit began operations with two Shorts Skyvans twin turboprop STOL transports, a leased Cessna A152 Areobat, two MBB BO 105 helicopters and a Westland built Bell 47G converted to solely turboshaft power. Two Mil Mi-2 twin turbine helicopters were donated by Libya in 1983 but were retired by 1986.Deliveries of one Bell and three Augusta-Bell AB 412 helicopters were delayed in 1983 to 1986 because of South Africa. This changed when a 1986 military coup resulted in new security agreements with Pretoria were 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 light turboprop transports, One crashed immediately, requiring a third which was delivered in 1992. A fifth Bell 412 (an EP model) was delivered in May 1998 to replace one written off in January 1998
Defence force air equipment
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Bell 412
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.-Design and development:...
|
Italy| Light utility Helicopter
|
| 3
| One written off in January 1998
|-----
| 212-300 Aviocar
|
Spain| Light transport
|
| 2
| One crashed in 1989
|-----
| Cessna 182
Cessna 182
The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area....
|
United States| Light transport
|
| 1
|
|-----
| Bo 105
|
Germany| Light utility helicopter
|105C
| 2
|
|-----
| Bell 47G
|
United States| Light helicopter
|
| 1
|
|-----