Defense Update Bangladesh

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...

Reportedly, Bangladesh Air Force ordered one squadron of Chengdu J-10C fighter jets from China. As experts suggests, many observe that J-10C incorporated some stealth technology from the J-20 stealth fighter. BAF wants to replace their older F-7BG fleet with 4.5th generation fighters. Initially 16 aircrafts has been ordered, but in future whole fleet of 37 “BGI” will be replaced by this advanced J-10C fighter jets.  In midst of 2017 Bangladesh Air Force issued an international tender to purchase 8 (+40 Medium Range Combat Aircrafts, well known as the MRCA tender. Along with Russian Su-30SME, Mig-35 Chengdu J-10B was a participant. BAF selected Su-30SME as the primary winner, but later the deal has not been signed due high-price tagging from Moscow.  After that, RSK-Mig offered their Mig-35 multipurpose fighter jet to Bangladesh with some sort of transfer-of-technology. Meanwhile, BAF finalized a deal for 16 J-10C fighter jets from China. This “Chinese deal” was in...

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.

Earlier in 2017 Beijing offered $1 billion loan to Dhaka to buy military aircrafts from China, which was made under Bangladesh Air Force fighter aircraft procurement program. It includes Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group’s J-10C multirole fighter jets for BAF. This is the latest variant of the J-10, of which Chinese air force operating 250+ units and PLANAF has 24+ jets in active services. Bangladeshi pilots are being trained in China to fly them. These J-10C fighter aircrafts will hugely boost Bangladesh Air Force’s operational capabilities to a new level. Gradually older combat jets will be phased out by these birds, mostly Chengdu built F-7 series aircrafts.  On the other side of the page, myanmar air force reportedly buying 6 Su-30MK from Russia. Bangladesh Air Force wanted to buy Su-30SME or Su-35. But Moscow tricked Dhaka with prices. And then offered their new development Mig-3 Fulcrum-F multipurpose fighter jet which has been claimed as 4++ generation fighter jet by ...

Bangladesh Air Force will buy a squadron of Russian Mig-35 multirole fighter jets. Government of Bangladesh will finance the procurement. No loan will be taken to buy them. But, India offered a $500 million line-of-credit to Dhaka to purchase Mig-35, as many news outlet reported. But it is skeptical why india wants to finance Bangladesh Air Force’s fighter aircraft purchase? As observers assumed, india wants to create technical influence over Bangladesh Armed Forces. India has some political and cultural in Bangladesh but it lacks such influence over the armed forces of the country.  From recent defense purchases of Dhaka irks india, especially, buying submarines from China. Previously india pressurized Bangladesh Government to accept indian proposal for a 25-year defense agreement and buy defense equipment from them. But, Bangladesh Army strongly rejected the idea.  After that Delhi found a new way to shackle Bangladesh’s defense modernization by pushing in their...

Bangladesh Air Force Fighter Jet Pilot Training. Pilots fly a machine into the sky needs great skills. It demands brightest brains as well smart training. Bangladesh Air Force trains their fighter aircraft pilots with world class standard. There are helicopter and tactical transport aircrafts too in BAF to be flown. Hence they need sufficient quality pilots.  For the purpose Bangladesh Air Force recruit new general duty pilots every year and train them with modern, advanced technologies. Here, when a gentleman cadet enters into the BAF Academy they fly various types of trainer aircrafts. Those includes PT-6 basic trainer aircraft which are Chinese origin. And then trainee pilots goes to sky with intermediate jet trainers like K-8W Karakorum and L-39ZA. For more advanced jet training BAF train their flying students with most advanced Yak-130 fighter trainers.  After completing necessary initial flying training those new fighter pilots gets training on the FT-7 ...

Bangladesh Air Force started to setup manufacturing plant to produce rubberized & glass spare parts of Chinese origin military aircrafts at Bangladesh Aeronautical Complex.  A tender has been issued to the international parties to build a plant which will manufacture specific spare parts for the F-7BGI fighter jets, K-8W Karakorum and PT-6 trainer aircrafts. The building of the plant have to be completed within 2017-2018 fiscal year.  In long-term, Bangladesh Air Force has planned to manufacture advanced fighter jets, medium altitude long-endurance UAVs and avionics systems. In order to keep existing aircraft fleet, including fixed-wing & rotary wing, BAC will setup several overhauling plant.  An overhauling plant for the F-7BGIs being materialized and another one for the Russian built Mi-17 series of helicopters also been planned. These aviation industry facilities will boost Bangladesh’s defense equipment manufacturing capabilities to a greater exte...

Bangladesh Air Force’s Bangabandhu Aeronautical Center (BAC) is the country’s first of its kind. This is a Bangladesh Ministry of Defense-owned aerospace defense security and advanced technology venture mainly focusing on avionics, aviation, and high-tech electronics. BAC poised to build modern fighter jets in Bangladesh within next decade. BAC’s work domain includes aircraft design, development & manufacturing, and producing avionics systems for country’s armed forces. Manufacture and maintenance of radar, unmanned aerial vehicle and other defense systems for Bangladesh Army & Bangladesh Navy. It also performs maintenance and overhauling of the civil-military airplanes.  There are strict restriction of exporting any product, technology or services to any foreign party. Bangladesh Air Force is operating and managing all the activities of this aviation industry. BAC is going to make operational an F-7 overhaul plant for BAF’s F-BG+F-7BGI fleet upgradation. Unmanned a...

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 F-7BGI Fighter Plane Armaments & Specifications/BAF Fighter Jets Update-2017: Bangladesh operating F-7BGI interceptor fighter jets in numbers. Chinese Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group built these single engine fighter aircrafts for Bangladesh with most advanced avionics and other sub-systems. Upgraded F-7BGI can carry and fire BVR & WVR air-to-air missiles, GPS/Laser guided bombs, Anti-Ship Missiles (AShM) and two types of rocket pods to fire unguided rockets. New engine has a wet thrust of 82kN. These fighter jets can carry 3000 kgs of weapons payload. BAF has 32 F-BGI fighter jets operational, mainly deployed as interceptor role. F-7BGIs are the “stop gap” combat jets while Bangladesh Air Force sourcing 4++ generation fighters from Russian origin. In few months past DGDP issued a tender to acquire 8 4++ generation fighter jets with Russian specific technical data and finally Su-30SME has been selected. It was included in the tender that BAF ...