Defense Update Bangladesh

BANGLADESH HAS become the latest nation to acquire the Airbus C295W medium airlifter with an order for a single aircraft for Bangladesh Army Aviation. Airbus Defense and Space announced the contract for the aircraft on October 11. In transport configuration, it will be delivered in the second half of 2017 under a deal that also includes customer support and training. The C295W is qualified for the transport of troops and bulky/palletized cargo, para-trooping and medical evacuation. It is the first multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft to be operated by Bangladesh Army Aviation. Airbus Defense and Space’s Head of Marketing and Sales, Jean-Pierre Talamoni said: “The C295W will markedly increase the transport capability of Bangladesh Army Aviation. We look forward to working with this new customer to secure a smooth entry into service and to supporting the aircraft for many years to come.” With this new order the number of operators for the C295 rises to 26.

Bangladesh Army upgrading Type-59 tanks with Chinese help. Chinese built   Type 59   main battle tank  from the   Soviet   T-54A   tank which is a  licensed-built version. China produced more than 10,000 unit of this version of-54A   tank, many of which China exported worldwide to its allied countries. Bangladesh is one of the largest operators of Chinese made Type 59 medium tank. 255 Type 59 tanks are in Bangladesh Army’s inventory which all are being upgraded with Chinese help. This up-gradation process being held in Bangladesh. BD Army also operating Type-69IIG, MBT-2000 and some Type-62 main battle tanks.

Bangladesh Navy has Type 81 Anti-Submarine Warfare Rocket launchers it its inventory for shallow water ASW role. It is an upgraded version of the Russian RBU-1200 ASW rocket launchers which fires 240/250mm Type 62 rockets from ASW small & medium warships like patrol vessels, fast attack crafts, submarine-chasers and frigates. Bangladesh Navy uses 250mm rockets and this system is a five-tube launchers and rockets have to be loaded manually. It has a range of 3,200 meters. Features are as below: • Range: 100 m to 1000 m • Weight: 195 kg • Warhead:100 kg • Caliber: 300 mm • Length: 1800 mm • Sink rate: 11.8 m/s • Maximum depth: 450 m Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DefenseUpdateBangladesh/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DefenseUpdateBD Pin on: https://www.pinterest.com/DefenseUpdateBD/ Visit our Blog at: http://defenseupdatebd.blogspot.com/                               https://defenseupdatebd.tumblr.com

Bangladesh Army Aviation Group is the Air Arm of Bangladesh Army. The AAG is responsible for military air operations, such as troops & supply delivery in the conflict zones, search and rescue ops, surveillance, and disaster managements and conducts relief operations during natural calamities etc. After the formation in 1978 it was named Army Aviation Squadron which was named then Army Aviation Wing, as after expansion to the Wing level. When in 1990 it was expanded to the level of a group strength then it named Army Aviation Group. Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh trained its pilots for long time and assists it. For maintenance and related other jobs had been done by the personnel from Bangladesh Air Force. And then the “801 Army aviation maintenance unit” was established and army came up with its own maintenance unit with its own personnel. Currently the AAG has a strength of more than 100 with 30+ well-trained pilots. 

Bangladesh and indian army concluded well their bilateral annual exercise “Sampriti-2016”. After this counter-terrorism exercise indian defense minister Mr. monohor porikar visited Bangladesh amid China’s delivery of the two submarines to the Bangladesh Navy. Mr. porikar offered military equipment and training to the Bangladesh Army, but top brass of Army decline and said Mr. porikar that Bangladesh doesn’t need indian training and equipment. Because, Bangladesh Army’s “training & evaluation” doctrine is one of the world’s best.