Defense Update Bangladesh

Bangladesh Navy going to assemble land-based anti-ship missile system too. It will be first such project in the country.  Bangladesh Army also expressed strong interest to acquire the weapons system to bolster the deterrence of Bangladesh’s maritime security. BD Navy will build 6 heavy frigates which will accommodate dozens of Anti-Ship Missiles. And other smaller vessels in Navy like corvettes, LPCs are also equipped with AShMs. So, in the near future Bangladesh will deploy a significant number of such missile weapons systems. Accordingly, Bangladesh Navy decided to reduce foreign dependence for the weapon.  Assembling missiles in Bangladesh will help country’s economy, create more jobs and establish a base for the high-tech military industries.

Pabna class patrol boats was the first ever homemade naval vessel for the Bangladesh Navy. Total five crafts were built in the Dockyard & Engineering Works (DEW) Ltd. Naraynagnaj. After serving for long time in the BD Navy, Pabna class crafts were handed over to the newly formed Bangladesh Coast Guard in 1994.  First boat of the class was launched in the 1972 and last three was launched in the 1977. Pabna class crafts are the small naval ship intended to patrol the riverine water bodies with sufficient speed and maneuverability. The first ship was, dubbed as the BNS Pabna. This class was powered by two Cummins diesel engines. It was 75 feet long, 6.1 wide and 6.2 feet draught. The ship weighs 69 tons while comprising 33 crews.  A Swedish Bofors made 40mm cannon was the only armament of the craft. Currently all the ships are serving in the BCG. New class of patrol boats and crafts has been commissioned into the Bangladesh Navy service, which mainly replaced this cl...

Bangladesh has very little defense equipment manufacturing facilities. Which have, all are state owned. Among them Bangladesh Ordnance Factories (BOF) is the biggest one and established in 1979 with the help China.  After that, in the 80s the facility has been renovated and expanded. Now, BOF manufacturing various kind of small weapons. BD-08 assault rifle, BD-14 general purpose machine guns, Heckler & Koch G3 Battle Rifle, Arges BD-84 hand grenades, FN-16 MANPADS and some others. Most of the ammunitions needed for the armed forces and police forces of Bangladesh are being produced in the Bangladesh Ordnance Factories. Within next year BOF will start to manufacture rocket or projectiles for the home made Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems of Bangladesh Army. Another defense vehicle manufacturing company Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) will assemble the launcher vehicles for the GMLRS.  Bangladesh Ordnance Factories contributing to the country’s secu...

Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory or BMTF is an automobile manufacturing/assembly industry managed by the Bangladesh Army. This state owned commercial venture is primarily tasked to produce various types of military vehicles for Bangladesh Armed Forces. Troop trucks, staff cars, jeeps etc. are being assembled in BMTF. It’s also manufacturing some soldiers’ gears and other materials for Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy.  BMTF setting up a plant to produce Armored Personnel Carriers and launcher vehicles for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems that will be assembled in Bangladesh. For this negotiation is ongoing with China Sinotruck and Taian Special Vehicle Company Ltd. BMTF is the largest venture in Bangladesh in its category. It also produces various agricultural equipment, energy saving lamps, leather items for soldiers and steel structures. Bangladesh needs to build her own military industries rapidly to cope up with the security threat...

Bangladesh Ordinance Factory (BOF) and Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) jointly will assemble “Guided-Multiple Launch Rocket System” (GMLRS) for the Bangladesh Army.  Primarily medium range MLRS will be assembled under license from some Chinese manufacturer. And for this purpose army has started to negotiate with several Chinese military vehicle manufacturers for suitable launcher vehicle.  Bangladesh Armed Forces finalized a modernization plan dubbed as “Forces Goal – 2030”. Under this plan Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Air Force started purchasing various military equipment. And initiated various defense program to produce possible military hardware in Bangladesh.  Bangladesh Army assembling Man Portable Air Defence Systems in Bangladesh Ordinance Factory (BOF). Next is “Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System” (GMLRS). One of the sophisticated Chinese MLRS which is widely used by the PLA going to be assembled under license from Chin...