Defense Update Bangladesh

Bangladesh Air Force not buying Mig-35! It is a shocking, though, not surprising as Russia demanded unnatural prices. Firstly Moscow offered Bangladesh their Su-30SME the new variant of the Su-30 family. Then they asked for a price that is usually very high from others they got.  After that BAF opt for Su-35 and again, Russia played its price card and asked BAF to buy their Mig-35 along with it. If Bangladesh don’t buy Mig-35 then Russia said they’ll not sell Su-35 to Dhaka. Under this circumstance, MRCA program stalled. After long negotiation process Bangladesh opt out Russian jets and seeking a single-engine multirole fighter jet from somewhere else.

Bangladesh Air Force publishes various audio-visuals to highlight the force’s activities. This video is the latest one, in which almost all of the aircrafts of the Bangladesh Air Force has been shown.

Bangladesh Air Force has started Winter Exercise – 2018 or WINTEX-2018 involving all of the air bases and related assets. This exercise is an annual event. Bangladesh Army, Navy and some other paramilitary forces also taking part in the drill to synchronize interoperability.

This is a relatively comparative analysis between the Bangladesh Air Force’s upcoming J-10C and Myanmar Air Force’s JF-17M. Reportedly Bangladesh ordered 16 Chengdu J-10s in a recent time. On the other hand myanmar supposed shortly to take delivery of their ordered 16 JF-17 Thunder block-2 fighter jets.

BD Air Force started to modernize their existing eight Mig-29 fighter jets to the latest “SMT” variant. This modernization includes new multi-mode multifunctional fire control radar, better performance engine, other advanced avionics and latest weaponry with BVR air-to-air missiles.  Bangladesh Air Force has six single-seat & two twin-seat Mig-29s which were bought from Russia in 2000. Already these fighter jets of BAF has been overhauled two times. These are the most advanced fighter jets Bangladesh has in its advanced combat jet inventory.  On the other side, myanmar air force also proceeding to upgrade their 31 Mig-29s. Currently the relations between Bangladesh and myanmar disrupted severely over Rohingya genocide issues. Myanmar air force helicopters also violated Bangladesh’s airspace several times, though, Dhaka restrained from shooting them down.  As experts saying, if Bangladesh Air Force doesn’t briefly increase their advanced fighter jet number...

Bangladesh Air Force operates a small commando unit called “No. 41 Squadron”. This commando unit was formed to protect country’s air bases, aircrafts and other air force installations and assets.  Besides doing special operations duties members of the No. 41 Squadron can also perform other air force jobs too. In future this unit will grow with a handsome number of members.

Bangladesh Air Force conducted live air-to-air missile firing test recently to calibrate and augment air warfare capabilities. In this training Mig-29, F-7BGI and L-39ZA aircrafts participated. All the combat planes were from the Kurmitola Air Base. This training exercise was successful.

Russia offered Mig-35 fighter jet to Bangladesh Air Force with transfer-of-technology.  Bangladesh Air Force fighter aircraft procurement program gets a new turnover from Su-30SME towards Mig-35. It’s a nothing strange but, amazingly Russians are offering transfer-of-technology to Bangladesh accordingly. This happens when Su-30SME deal stalled due to various reasons. Russian state defense technology exporter Rosobornexport made the offer to Bangladesh.  It is said in the report that, if Bangladesh Air Force buy Mig-35 jets, these will be manufactured in the Bangabandhu Aeronautical Center in Dhaka. An MRO facility also will be established to support maintenance, repair and future upgrade works. Bangladesh needs medium weight long range fighter jets urgently to maintain air power capabilities.  Myanmar progressing their deal for the JF-17 Thunder license building in home. Talks are going on with both developer of the jet, China & Pakistan, simultaneously. ...

Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Not Buying Su-30SME Under MRCA Program. Bangladesh Air Force’s Su-30SME acquisition plagued due to high price asking by Moscow. Rather Russia wants Bangladesh to buy its new Mig-35D. But BAF is not willing to buy any more Migs. UAC asked $60m for each Su-30SME whereas they offering it to Phillipines Air Force in a $45m price tags.  Bangladesh Air Force currently lacks in needed air power due to aging fleet of F-7BG and some of 8 Mig-29s. Country needs 2-3 more squadrons of 4++ generation fighter jets to maintain air power balance. Recent acquisition of BAF comprises only some trainer aircrafts and utility helicopters. No new advanced fighter jet has been bought in near future.  Initially Bangladesh sought for Su-35S, that’s too, slowed regarding high-price. In the meantime China offered Bangladesh a $1b loan to buy chinese military aircrafts includes J-10B 4.5th generation fighetr aircraft. BAF also needs J-10B like jet but it can’t c...

Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Needs A Fleet of Efficient Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to Reduce Pressure on Manned Combat Aircraft. BAF doesn’t operate any capable unmanned aerial system (UAS) or UAVs right now. But, to ensure force’s capabilities it’s now time to acquire some drones to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions in the regions where manned aircraft operations costs unnecessarily. There are handful options for Bangladesh regarding UAV/UCAVs. First of all China can be the most predictable source as several Chinese surveillance and armed UAVs are emerged as capable system. Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group recently unveiled Wing Loong II Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) which is the successor of the previous version Wing Loong I. on the other side China Aerospace Science and Industries Corporation (CASIC) also offering it’s new version of the RainBow series armed drones named CH-5, which is the most powerful & capable Chinese combat UAV. Besides these ...