MASERU - Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane has commissioned the newly acquired Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) helicopter nicknamed Thaba Putsoa at the ceremony held at the Mejametalana Air Wing on Wednesday last week. Speaking at the ceremony, the Dr Thabane said it was a great honour and privilege for him to officiate the commissioning parade of the newly acquired LDF H125 Helicopter. “This is a remarkable achievement for the Lesotho Defence Force, in particular the LDF Air wing. We have just heard from numerous speakers the narrative background of circumstances leading to the acquisition of this helicopter,” he said. He said every nation has different needs for military forces to support its strategic and operational requirements which are determined by the civil authority from the basis of their composition structure, equipment, and the use and maintenance of available facilities and services. “We are gathered to witness the commissioning of the LDF H125 helicopter into the Lesotho service fleet inventory. This commendable achievement deserves recognition taking into consideration the cognizant strategic importance of the LDF Air Wing. From this given background, the LDF Airwing is widely applauded for the significant role it plays in supporting the government of Lesotho through its ministries, other private organisations as well as individual clients in humanitarian assistance operations,” he explained. The Minister of Defence and Public Safety Mr. Sentje Lebona thanked the army partners whom he said played a pivotal role in ensuring that the acquisition of the aircraft became a reality. The other helicopter was commissioned in October 2017. One of the LDF partners and Managing Director of Lesotho National Insurance Group (LNIG) Mr. Ralitapole Letsoela said he had no doubt that they were gathered to solely remember the day as a happy one on which the LDF welcomed its newest member in its aircraft fleet. “Whilst the replacement of an aircraft following misfortune is itself an occasion for celebration we must not lose sight of the fact that prudent prior arrangements were actually what have made bearable the effects of what would otherwise be a devastating loss. A loss is unplanned and like death comes sneaking in the night and strikes when least expected thus causing mayhem and hardship,” he explained. Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Mojalefa Letsoela described the H125 as a high-altitude hot-day performer with a widened operational envelope that enables a greater military mission flexibility and performance than its competitors for similar class. He noted that the choice of H125 was a key-mission driven requirement strictly made under the terms and conditions of the aviation insurance contract prescribed by the insurer LNIG, Minet Insurance (Pty) Ltd after the fatal accident of the EC135 helicopter, popularly known as Mpolloane. The H125 replaces EC 135 that crashed in a tragic accident which occurred at Thaba Putsoa in April last year where two officers lost their lives while two others sustained injuries. “This dependable workhorse offers a wide range of operating capabilities coupled with speed, agility, power, safety and low direct operating costs. It would have been difficult for the government through the Ministry of Defence to afford a timely compensation for the families of the victims and then secure funds for the replacement project amid the constantly rising procurement costs involved thereto had it not been for the intervention of the insurer,” he observed. Lt General Letsoela said the newly acquired helicopter has tasks ahead which would include numerous aerial supportive tasks, day and night, under diverse weather conditions. Lena