2017 Lesotho Defence Force helicopter crash

Lesotho Defence Force
Company type	Military organization
Industry	Defence
Founded	1978
Headquarters	Lesotho
Area served	Lesotho
Number of employees	2000

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article 2017 Lesotho Defence Force helicopter crash, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 2025

The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) serves as the military organization of the Southern African Kingdom of Lesotho, with an estimated strength of around 2,000 members. Its core responsibilities encompass safeguarding internal order, protecting national borders, and upholding the constitution. Being a landlocked nation completely encircled by South Africa, Lesotho depends on its neighboring country for external defense, thus concentrating its military efforts predominantly on domestic security. The LDF is composed of an army complemented by a modest air component.

History

Formed in 1978, the LDF has been a key player in Lesotho’s political developments, including participation in the 1986 military takeover and involvement in internal strife during the 1994 and 1998 electoral periods, as well as disturbances in 2007. Following the 1993 general election, King Letsie III dissolved the parliament in 1994 with military support.

In August 2014, an alleged coup attempt within the military compelled then-Prime Minister Tom Thabane to temporarily seek refuge in South Africa. Further turmoil struck in September 2017 when Lieutenant General Khoantle Motsomotso, the LDF commander, was assassinated by junior officers, which led to intervention by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

In 2021, the LDF deployed forces to the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) to assist government troops combating insurgents in Cabo Delgado, engaging in pro-government military operations beginning in August.

Army

The origins of Lesotho’s army trace back to a paramilitary police unit established during the 1960s, distinct from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service since 1 April 1978. It gained formal recognition as an army in August 1979 and underwent expansion throughout the 1980s amid insurgencies linked to the Basutoland Congress Party. After General Justin Lekhanya led a coup in January 1986, it was renamed the Royal Lesotho Defence Force. By 1990, its force included roughly 2,000 personnel structured into one reconnaissance company, one artillery battery, seven companies, a special forces platoon, and a support company.

Small arms

Name	Caliber	Type	Origin
Submachine guns
Sterling	9×19mm	Submachine gun	United Kingdom
Uzi	9×19mm	Submachine gun	Israel
Rifles
AKM	7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AK-74	5.45×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
Type 56	7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	China
IMI Galil	5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	Israel
Vektor R4	5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	South Africa
M16	5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	United States
Beretta AR70/90	5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	Italy
FN FAL	7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Belgium
Lee-Enfield	.303 British	Bolt-action rifle	British Empire
Sniper rifles
SVD	7.62×54mmR	Designated marksman rifle Sniper rifle	Soviet Union
Machine guns
Bren	7.62×51mm	Light machine gun	United Kingdom
RPD machine gun	7.62×39mm	Squad automatic weapon	Soviet Union
RPK	7.62×39mm	Squad automatic weapon	Soviet Union
FN MAG	7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	Belgium
Browning M2	.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7	40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union

Anti-tank weaponry

Designation	Image	Category	Country of origin	Caliber	Remarks
M40A1		Recoilless rifle	United States	106mm	Currently, six units remain operational.

Armored tanks

Model	Image	Classification	Manufacturer origin	Number held	Operational status	Additional information
T-55		Medium tank	Template:Country data Soviet Union	1

Armored scout vehicles

Model name	Image	Vehicle type	Country of manufacture	Quantity available	Current status	Notes
BRDM-2		Amphibious armored reconnaissance vehicle	Template:Country data Soviet Union	2

Recon vehicles

Model designation	Vehicle category	Nation of origin	Inventory count
Panhard AML	Armored car	France	6
RAM MK3	Armored car	Template:Country data Israel	6
RBY Mk 1	Armored car	Template:Country data Israel	10
Shorland S52	Armored car	United Kingdom	8

Air Wing

The Lesotho Defence Force Air Wing was established in 1978, evolving from the paramilitary police's mobile unit. Its initial fleet consisted of two Short Skyvan twin turboprop STOL transports, a leased (Cessna A152 Aerobat), a pair of MBB Bo 105 helicopters, and a turboshaft-modified Bell 47G helicopter. In 1983, Libya contributed two twin-turbine Mil Mi-2 helicopters, which were phased out by 1986.

The delivery of four Bell 412 helicopters was postponed from 1983 until 1986 due to South African interference but resumed following a coup in 1986 that resulted in new security arrangements. By the mid-1980s, this air wing was fully integrated into the Lesotho Defence Force. The Skyvans were replaced in 1989 by two CASA C-212 Aviocar light turboprop transports; after one crashed immediately upon arrival, a third was supplied in 1992. In May 1998, a fifth Bell 412 (EP variant) was procured to replace one lost earlier that year.

Aircraft inventory

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Accidents and incidents

On 13 April 2017, a Eurocopter EC 135 T2+ was involved in a crash close to Thaba Putsoa, leading to the deaths of all four individuals aboard, which included three military personnel and an official from the Ministry of Finance. The aircraft collided with power lines amid rugged mountainous terrain, causing fatal injuries.

Aircraft model	Country of manufacture	Role	Number operational
Transport aircraft
CASA C-212	Spain	Transport aircraft	2
GippsAero GA8	Australia	Utility aircraft	1
Helicopters
Bell 412	United States	Utility helicopter	3
Eurocopter AS350	France	Light utility helicopter	3

2017 Lesotho Defence Force helicopter crash

History