[🇧🇩-Airforce] Bangladesh Air Force

[Saif]

Govt wants to build air force like developed countries: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) expressed her government's keen interest to make the air force like developed countries, saying the ultra-modern fighter planes, air defence radar and missile were already inducted to the force to turn the desire into reality.

www.rtvonline.com

Govt wants to build air force like developed countries: PM​

Rtv news
30 Dec 2021, 20:47

Photo: Collected

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) expressed her government's keen interest to make the air force like developed countries, saying the ultra-modern fighter planes, air defence radar and missile were already inducted to the force to turn the desire into reality.

"We have already incorporated ultra-modern fighter planes, air defence radar, missile and necessary equipment to Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) alongside setting up new ghatis (wings), units and training institute ---we want to build the air force like developed countries," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing as the chief guest the "President Parade (Winter)-2021" of the Bangladesh Air Force Academy, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital.

The BAF is going to get soon various modern planes, high-performance air defence radar, simulator, ATS simulator, laser guided bomb and anti-ship missile which will multiply its capacity, she said.

The Prime Minister called upon the fresh cadets to be prepared in such a way keeping in mind the Father of the Nation's ideals as they can play an active role in fulfilling the country's expectations by serving the nation.

She hoped that the fresher would march the force ahead by using their talent, professionalism and patriotism from the current position that was achieved by your predecessors' far-sightedness, professionalism and hard work.

The Prime Minister greeted the new cadets as they are going to join the air force upon completion of their three years training.

She asked the cadets to always love the country and its people and perform the responsibilities bestowed on them with sincerity and honesty.

"Protect the independence and sovereignty of the country that were shouldered upon you after taking the oath," she added.

Highlighting her government's various measures taken for the overall development of the air force, the premier said they have purchased the fourth generation MIG-29 and C-130 and high performance air protection radar alongside infrastructure development coming to power in 1996 after 21 years.

Describing the armed forces as the symbol of country's independence and sovereignty, Sheikh Hasina said her government has been implementing the "Forces Goal-2030" to build a developed and professional force.

The "Forces Goal-2030" was formulated in line with the Defence Policy of 1974 adopted by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said.

The Prime Minister said that they have established Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre to ensure safe and affordable management and overhauling of the planes, radars and military equipment.

She said that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University was established to ensure overall development of the air force and make time-worthy the civil aviation sector.

The Prime Minister said, "InshaAllah, we will once attain ability in building planes, helicopters and fighter planes with the knowledge to be obtained through research from the university."

Her government has always attached priority on conducting research regarding space, she said.

She also said her government has added ultra-modern fly-by-wire, digital cockpit based YAK-130 combat trainer, K-8W Z trainer, L-410 transport trainer, AW-119KX helicopter trainer and various simulators to the air force to ensure a developed and time-befitting flying training for its future generation cadets.

Bangladesh Air Force arranged a spectacular parade and colourful fly past at its Jashore Academy on the occasion which the premier virtually witnessed from her Ganabhaban residence.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan later gave a vote of thanks to the Prime Minister for joining the programme.

He, on behalf of the premier, earlier handed over the 'Sword of Honour' 'Chief of Air Staff Trophy' 'Commandants Trophy' and other prizes among the
best cadets.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has bought the certified tier-111 data centre and is setting up it to make the air force activities digital as part of the government's move to transform Bangladesh into a digital country.

The Prime Minister said v-set hub and terminal station for the air force was recently purchased which will help build satellite based communication among its ghatis and units using the Bangabandhu Satellite-1.

She also said that her government is set to launch the Bangabandhu Satellite-2 as well.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has first taken measures to appoint female in the armed forces to empower women.

She also expressed her satisfaction over participation of female cadets took part in today's march past alongside the men.

The Prime Minister said that the Father of the Nation had dreamt of building a modern, professional and developed air force.

So, Bangabandhu purchased the ultra-modern fighter plane MIG-21 from neighbouring countries alongside procuring helicopter, radar and other military equipment for the air force, she said, adding the Mig-21 was used in the Liberation War in 1971.

She recalled the contribution of Bangabandhu in shaping the armed forces with limited resources during his three and a half years tenure alongside building a war-ravaged country.

The Prime Minister said the Father of the Nation had built a military academy while her government had established the air force academy from which
cadets of Palestine, Nepal, Zambia and Sri Lanka alongside Bangladesh took the training course.

She said, "We have always given priority on training."

Sheikh Hasina thanked the air force personnel as they stood beside the distressed people during the Covid-19 pandemic alongside carrying huge quantities of medical equipment from China and South Korea and bringing back Bangladeshi expatriates stranded at the different countries.

The premier said: "The air force personnel always stand beside the people in every disaster."

Source: BSS​

 

[Saif]

Though I don't trust Indian media, I posted the news item below just because it talks about BAF's intention to purchase EF-2000 from Italy.

Dhaka junks Sino-Russian aircraft, Chinese Navy to get improved combat aircraft

Extremely peeved by China’s and Russia’s support to Myanmar’sstand on the Rohingya refugee issue, Bangladesh’s Awami League-led government has decided to get rid of the Bangladesh Air Force’s (BAF)

forceindia.net

The Eastern Front​

Dhaka junks Sino-Russian aircraft, Chinese Navy to get improved combat aircraft​

Prasun K. Sengupta

Extremely peeved by China’s and Russia’s support to Myanmar’s stand on the Rohingya refugee issue, Bangladesh’s Awami League-led government has decided to get rid of the Bangladesh Air Force’s (BAF) existing fleet of China-/Russia-origin combat aircraft and go for an initial 16 Eurofighter EF-2000 medium multi-role combat aircraft (M-MRCA) from Italy’s Leonardo Group. The BAF presently operates Chengdu F-7MBs and MiG-29B-12s that were procured two decades ago.

The BAF zeroed in on the EF-2000 back in 2015, following the appointment of the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Abu Esrar, who had conducted an evaluation of the EF-2000 during the 2016 Farnborough International Air show. Esrar’s successor, ACM Masihuzzaman Serniabat, was equally enthusiastic, but a detailed evaluation of the M-MRCA with Leonardo’s assistance had to be aborted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now Serniabat’s successor, ACM Shaikh Abdul Hannan, has been tasked with the completion of the EF-2000 procurement process.

Bangladesh’s Directorate General Defence Purchase (DGDP) had floated a global tender in 2017 for the procurement of eight M-MRCAs, plus options for an additional four, under the Forces Goal 2030 modernisation programme. Later increased to 16 M-MRCAs, the tender had specified the requirement for a new-build, twin-engined M-MRCA, with each of its turbofans producing at least 12,125 pounds of dry thrust and more than 17,635 pounds with afterburner. The minimum weapons payload was to be five tonnes carried on at least eight weapons hard-points. Additional specifications had called for the M-MRCAs to be equipped with active electronically scanned array multi-mode radar (AESA-MMR) with an air-to-air range of 93 miles and an air-to-surface range of 31 miles, an infra-red search and track (IRST) system, and an integrated electronic warfare (EW) suite.

The BAF’s combat aircraft fleet comprises around 44 units, comprising eight MiG-29B-12s and MiG-29UBs assigned to No.8 Squadron located at Dhaka’s Kurmitola (Bangabandhu air base), 28 Chengdu F-7BGs and four FT-7BGs assigned to Nos.5 and 35 Squadrons at the same location. The older 16 F-7MBs and eight FT-7MBs have been decommissioned. Four of the MiG-29s were upgraded to MiG-29BM/UBM standards in Belarus between 2019 and 2020 and the remaining four are expected to be upgraded as well.

To date, under the 2009-vintage Bangladesh Armed Forces Forces Goal 2030 modernisation programme, the BAF received 16 Yak-130 advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft that were ordered in 2013, and it had planned to procure eight Sukhoi Su-30SME heavy-MRCAs in 2017. However, relations with Moscow deteriorated after it supported Myanmar over the Rohingya refugee issue and worsened after Russia agreed to sell the Yak-130 and Su-30SME to Myanmar while offering the MiG-35 to the BAF.

A miffed Dhaka consequently began drawing up plans for earmarking around 25,200 Crore Taka (USD3 billion) for 16 EF-2000s, starting with an advance sum of 6,300 Crore Taka for the financial year 2021-22, which would have enabled the BAF to seek a complete package with aircraft, support, training, a variety of guided-weapons, and the creation of localised maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities. Apart from the difficulties experienced by Dhaka in procuring Su-30SMEs, the BAF wanted to ensure that it enjoyed technological superiority over its Myanmarese counterpart, which was the reason why the BAF chose to reject the single-engined Chengdu J-10CE, Saab JAS-39 Gripen NG and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block-52. Although Italy-based Leonardo Group is the designated Eurofighter consortium’s industrial partner to market the EF-2000 in Bangladesh, it is now certain that the UK-based BAE System would also support the procurement process. The report following the third Bangladesh-UK strategic dialogue in 2019 had stated: ‘The UK further expressed its readiness to support Bangladesh with the procurement of high-calibre multi-role combat aircraft alongside other modernisation programmes.’

Bangladesh’s procurement of Italy-origin military hardware has been increasing since the previous decade. In July 2014 the BAF had ordered two AW139 intermediate twin-engine helicopters from Leonardo for maritime search and rescue (SAR) and other utility missions. In June 2017, the BAF ordered a RAT-31 DL/M long-range airspace surveillance radar worth 147 crore Taka for installation in Barisal to bolster air-defences in the country’s southern region. In September that same year, the Bangladesh Navy ordered Leonardo’s Seaspray-5000E AESA-MMR for its two RUAG Do-228NG multi mission surveillance aircraft. And in October 2019 the BAF ordered Leonardo’s KRONOS LAND C-band AESA air-defence radars for its current and emerging gap filler radar requirements. The KRONOS LAND has an air surveillance range of 250km.

It now remains to be seen if the BAF will eventually buy two EMB-145I ‘Netra’ AEW & C platforms from India, which are on offer along with a related line-of-credit. The BAF had evinced interest in procuring this platform four years ago.​

 

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