Bangladesh Navy Ordered Two More Ruag Aviation’s Dornier Do-228NG Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Bangladesh Navy (BN) buying 2 more Maritime Patrol Aircraft from German aerospace company Ruag Aviation. Currently Bangladesh operating two Dornier 228NG MPA. Navy BD wants to expand its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities to protect country’s 1, 18,813 sq. km territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal.

Maritime Patrol Aircrafts are very much effective tool to stop illegal migration, fishing, smuggling and protecting maritime environment from unwanted pollution by merchant ships. This type of plane also helps naval forces to fishermen lives during tornedo, hurricane and other natural disaster inshore and offshore. Hence Bangladesh needs more such planes to protect coastal lives and environment in the Bay of Bengal as it is one of the most cyclone and hurricane prone sea. Surely this new acquisition of the Bangladesh Navy will enhance it capabilities in a greater extent and make ease to conduct surveillance missions over Bangladesh’s EEZ in the sea.

International Maritime Tribunal fixed the issues related to the maritime boundaries between Bangladesh, india and myanmar. Almost all of the Bangladesh’s foreign trades are happened through the Sea-Line-of-Communications (SLOC) of the country. Two ports of Bangladesh hosts many merchant ships across the year. Hence sea routes are very much important for Bangladesh. After Bangladesh Navy’s commissioning of the two Chinese submarines neighboring navies trying a sneak-peak into Bangladeshi territorial water bodies. Moreover, recent time’s increased illegal migration, smuggling from myanmar, illegal fishing of neighboring countries’ fishermen into Bangladeshi waters are to prevented, as the Government of Bangladesh intends. For these reasons, Dhaka wants to increase its surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities over the seas.

For ISR role, Bangladesh Navy previously acquired two German RUAG built Dornier Do 228NG Maritime Patrol Aircrafts. After operating those two, navy ordered two more for the same missions. Bangladesh wants to monitor which ships are passing through. And if they are polluting its territorial water bodies or not! And moreover, Navy needs its eyes over there. For these mission requirements Do 228NGs are the best low-cost solution. It’s easy to maintain, operate and handle. Advanced sensors and equipment enables the aircraft to maintain a datalink to the shore command and being upgraded with associated commands.

Do 228NGs are providing Bangladesh Navy an “eyes of the fleet” purposes. As tri-dimension naval force, Bangladesh Navy going to expand its aerial arm with advanced and modern ASW, utility helicopters soon. It ordered two Leonardo Company’s AW159 & 5 Chinese Harbin Z-9C ASW helicopters too. It seems that Bangladesh in the process of making a real deterrent navy in the coming decade.