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 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...

Two new air bases for Bangladesh Air Force. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that two new air force base will be built in Sylhet and Barisal to enhance BAF’s operational capabilities. There are no air base in the respective districts.  PM Hasina said about these two bases in her speech during the passing out parade of the newly commissioned officers of the BAF in Jessore. She also stated that Bangladesh Air Force will be one of the most powerful air force in Asia.  Sylhet district of Bangladesh don’t have any air base there right now. Almost 60% of the natural resources are in Sylhet and it is an important region to secure country’s national interest. So setting up an air base in Sylhet will give Bangladesh Air Force essential operational capabilities to face any adversary from that specific regional point.  On the other hand Barisal situated in the middle of the Bangladesh’s coastline. It is safer position for setting high value military installations t...

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. ...