The 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 (𝗕𝗗𝗙, 𝗧𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮: 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮) is the military of Botswana. The main component of the BDF is the Botswana Ground Force; there is also an air wing and a riverine patrol contingent attached to the ground forces, with 10 Panther airboats and 2 Boston Whaler Raider class.

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana_Ground_Force

History:
The Botswana Defence Force was raised in April 1977 by an Act of Parliament called the 'BDF Act NO 13 of 1977. At its formation, Lieutenant General Mompati Merafhe (retired and former Vice President of the Republic of Botswana (now deceased)) became its first Commander. The former President of the Republic of Botswana, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, then Brigadier, was the Deputy Commander. Unusually for an African military force, and chiefly attributable to its being founded after Botswana's independence, the Botswana Ground Force was not formed from colonial units formed by a colonising power, but rather were formed from the remains of the Botswana Mounted Police Unit, previously known as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, a unit of the British South Africa Police.

The contemporary roles of the Defence Force are broad for a conventional military, suggesting that the government of Botswana and the BDF subscribe to a wide view of ‘security’ and consider the Defence Force an appropriate agency for attaining much of it, an issue that has been discussed even in the BDF's own internal media. It is expected that the BDF in general is meant to be an apolitical instrument of the state.

The current stated mission of the Botswana Ground Force is:
To defend the country and provide for the security of Botswana, participate in external security cooperation activities, and contribute in domestic support operations, with the aim of:

Ensuring national security and stability
Protecting the people and their properties
Protecting the constitution of Botswana to guarantee the rule of law
Defending Botswana's territorial integrity on land and in the air
Preserving Botswana as a free, independent and sovereign state
Aiding civil authorities in domestic support operations
Strengthening Botswana's international relations by participating in regional and international security cooperation activities.

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗴
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana_Defence_Force_Air_Wing

History:
The Air Wing was formed in 1977 and is organisationally part of the Botswana Defence Force.

All squadrons are designated with a Z, which stands for "squadron". The main base is near Molepolole and was built by mostly foreign contractors between 1992 and 1996. Other airports used are Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and Francistown International Airport.

The backbone of the Air Wing consists of a squadron of former Canadian Canadair CF-116s which are locally designated as BF-5s. Thirteen ex-Canadian CF-116s (ten single-seater CF-5As and three trainer CF-5Bs) were ordered in 1996 to replace BAC Strikemasters, with another three single-seaters and two dual-seaters delivered in 2000. The aircraft were re-designated OJ-1 through 16. For transport, the Air Wing uses Britten-Norman Defenders, CASA C-212 Aviocars, CASA CN-235s and Lockheed C-130B Hercules. The latest addition to the transport fleet was an ex-AMARC C-130 Hercules to complement the two existing aircraft.

A combination of Bell 412EP and 412SP helicopters are operated by Z21 and perform a variety of functions; search and rescue, medivac, anti-poaching and troop/VIP transport. In 1993, nine ex-US Army/AMARC Cessna O-2As were delivered for use against poaching.

In 2011, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd announced that the Botswana Defence Force had selected the PC-7 MkII turboprop trainer aircraft to replace their Pilatus PC-7 fleet which has been in service since 1990. The contract value is approximately 40 million Swiss francs to procure a fleet of five PC-7 MkII turboprop trainer aircraft, with ground-based training system including computer-based training, spares, support equipment, as well as pilot and technician conversion training elements. The contract was signed in Gaborone on 13 April 2011.

Botswana is also believed to operate Elbit Systems Silver Arrow and Elbit Hermes 450 UAVs.