Bangladesh Air Force

[rafiq]

Pics in Bangladesh had some posts on BAF planes, etc but as that thread was long enough and as I don't have pics, thought I would post this background info. I think it is current but not sure. Air Force enthusiasts can find this info on:

Scramble magazine's website


Bangladesh Air Force
Indian assistance in the struggle for independence led to a number of aircraft (DHC-3 Otter, Dakota and Alouette 3) being donated to the Bangladesh Air Force to be. The first fighters of the country were five Sabres left behind by the Pakistan Air Force.

After the Bangladesh Air Force was officially formed (28 September 1973) two Wessex HU5s were acquired and a dozen MiG-21s from Russia. Russia also supplied some transportcapability (An-24 and An-26s) and helicopters (Mi-8). Another supplying country was added in 1977; China. This country has supplied several types of aircraft to bolster the Air Force's capabilities. France has supplied a number of CM170 Magisters in the mid-eighties and the US has supplied twelve T-37s in de mid-nineties. Pakistan has supplied the country with a large number of refurbished F-6s. All of the F-6s have been retired by now and a number of aircraft never saw service with the Bangladesh Air Force. The 1991 flooding resulted in writing off a number of F-6s, some of them were still crated awaiting assembly.

Nowadays the Bangladesh Air Force operates from three major bases, all named after national heroes; Bashar AB (Dhaka), Matiur Rahman AB (Jessore) and Zahurul Haque AB (Chittagong). Bashar AB actually consists of two bases; Dhaka-Tejgaon and Dhaka-Kurmitola. The latter is located on the new Zia International Airport, while Tejgaon is the old Dhaka International Airport.

Tejgaon houses two helicopter squadrons (flying the Mi-17 and Bell 212). Kurmitola is the main fighter-base, were two squadrons of F(T)-7s are stationed, one squadron of MiG-29s and one squadron of A-5s. The Jessore base houses the Air Force Academy, where the Flying Training Wing operates three squadrons (flying PT-6s, T-37s and Bell 206s respectively). The transport squadrons also operates from Jessore. At Chittagong one squadron with L-39s is stationed, alongside a helicopter squadron operating with Bell 212s.

The most recent addition to the Air Force are the eight MiG-29s that were acquired in 1998 and have since been delivered to Kurmitola. The country is eagerly awaiting permission and money to acquire another sixteen Fulcrums, but the order has not yet been signed. Recent publications indicate that the government is to withdraw the eight Fulcrums instead, because of the costs for operating the aircraft.

Not yet delivered is the C-130 Hercules. Four aircraft have been ordered and are thought to be introduced in the near future.

[Arnab]

Are you an air force enthusiast? Or are you just posting for the enthusiast's benefits?

Edited on, February 2, 2005, 7:20 AM GMT, by Arnab.

[rafiq]

I like facts rather than a lot of speculation, that's all

[DJ Sahastra]

"Not yet delivered is the C-130 Hercules."

Rafiq,

You might want to cross-check that. I remember seeing the pics of C-130 Hercules in one of the threads, with "Bangladesh Air Force" painted on it (Bangladesh Pic Gallery?).

I think Bangladesh already has C-130 Hercules.

[rafiq]

like i said, it may not be completely up-to-date, just seemed like a useful link however

[Pundit]

I have seen the Hecules at the main airport. I understand that there are 2 -both from an ASEAN country.

Edited on, February 2, 2005, 7:17 PM GMT, by Pundit.
Reason: Typo

[Maruf]

There is a good article on Bangladesh Air Force. Use the link below:

Bangladesh air force and its future growth

You will get a fairly good idea about the strength and the growth of BAF.

Edited on, February 3, 2005, 2:14 AM GMT, by Maruf.

[Maruf]

Originally posted by Pundit
I have seen the Hecules at the main airport. I understand that there are 2 -both from an ASEAN country.

Edited on, February 2, 2005, 7:17 PM GMT, by Pundit.
Reason: Typo

U.S.A donated 4 C-130 hercules to BAF in 1999 under surplus weapons programme. BAF spent $15 million to upgrade the avionic suits of 4 C-130 Hercules.

[Arnab]

So Maruf, how good is our defense forces anyway? You seem to be a knowledgable person.

Are they really any good? Can they do 50 pushups at the drop of a hat? Can they run 3 miles under 20 minutes? Can they bench 250+ lbs. regularly? Do they know how to fly those planes? Do they know how to operate first class computer softwares? Do they have bluetooth enabled GPS chips on their outfit?

[tiger_man]

having studying aviation for a while...i can tell you this from my experience...

an average jet fighter/bomber consumes an immense amount of fuel....i am talking about the brand new ones....its beyond the ability of not many nations to maintain aeroplanes of such kinds

besides the ones we got the mig29s are the old soviet class ones.....and all the more they consume more oil and greater cost of maintenance....enough to cause problems on our already dwindling economy

they should brought some boeing for biman....that would have been more useful...atleast they would have been making some money instead of loosing it.......

besides if at all war breaks out...do you think we have any chance??? may be against burma but against india or china?? forget it!!!


Edited on, February 3, 2005, 9:17 AM GMT, by tiger_man.

[Maruf]

Originally posted by tiger_man
they should brought some boeing for biman....that would have been more useful...atleast they would have been making some money instead of loosing it.......

besides if at all war breaks out...do you think we have any chance??? may be against burma but against india or china?? forget it!!!
Edited on, February 3, 2005, 9:17 AM GMT, by tiger_man.

India has no chance against China, now should they go ahead and start buying boeing 747 instead of modernizing their armed forces?

Military modernization is an incremental process. It takes decades to build modern armed forces.

Why should Bangladesh fight against China? China is the largest defence supplier of Bangladesh and a trusted friend.

[tiger_man]

Edited on, February 8, 2005, 4:57 AM GMT, by tiger_man.

[tiger_man]

[quote]Originally posted by tiger_man

Originally posted by Maruf

India has no chance against China, now should they go ahead and start buying boeing 747 instead of modernizing their armed forces?

Military modernization is an incremental process. It takes decades to build modern armed forces.

Why should Bangladesh fight against China? China is the largest defence supplier of Bangladesh and a trusted friend.

saddam hussein and bin laden was america's best friends years ago....and saddams so called WMD were made in UsA....so y are these old friends fighting now....??

during the world war II, America supplied arms and soldiers to russia so that they dont loose to germany.....so why were they ready to nuke one another during the cuban missile crisis???

because, international politics is very tricky and volatile....if today they are friends, dont be surprise if they become enemies tommorrow....there is nothing called trusted friends

belgium was germanys trusted friend until they got invaded twice during 1st and 2nd world war.

besides, i am talking about a future confrontation with india regarding land issues.....border with india isnt well mapped out and those guys cant stop breeding.....so in 10 years time they will be knocking our door claiming for more land, which we cant give coz we need more to house our own people

Edited on, February 8, 2005, 4:58 AM GMT, by tiger_man.

[alias]

Originally posted by Maruf

India has no chance against China, now should they go ahead and start buying boeing 747 instead of modernizing their armed forces?

Same principle applies to Bangladesh.

[DJ Sahastra]

"India has no chance against China"

I don't think that's true.

India has enough deterrent to keep China at bay. Prime being the Nukes and the ability to deliver them.

[Sami]

Originally posted by Maruf
Why should Bangladesh fight against China? China is the largest defence supplier of Bangladesh and a trusted friend.

i think u miss the point... the main thing being... IF a war was to start with Bangladesh The Air force wudnt stand a chance anyhow... I always believed that Bangladesh doesnt need to bolster their armed forces... we have a lot of other sectors that cud use the money... jei desh er manush 2 bela khaite pai na shei desh 8 ta mig29, or 2 frigates for that matter, kinay kon logic e?

Bangladesh maintains a huge army that has practically no use... NO ONE is dumb enuf to take over Bangladesh... its a liability... too many ppl to feed and too less gain... countries wud rather profit exploiting the Bangladeshi economy...

So army, navy and Aur force barai labh nai... some of the "bhikka" money that we get shud actually go to some development work for a change and not into pockets of our wonderful and patriotic lawmakers...

[Zobair]

Bangladesh Air Farce is more like it! :P

[tiger_man]

Edited on, February 8, 2005, 7:54 AM GMT, by tiger_man.

[tiger_man]

Originally posted by tiger_man

any battle involving china and india is bound to turn up really ugly...

but i dont agree with you saying india has enough deterent to keep china at bay...those days are gone where having a huge bulk of armies means you got a bulk of power....its the military technology that matters, and china has a leading edge when it comes to those stuff....india's nuke program cant reach all of china but the chinese ones sure can!

chinese makes their own planes, (i am not sure if india does), they make their own naval stuff, and being a communist state, it can commit every aspect of the society into war and that for sure will be too much for india to handle....

those guys even went to space.....and that gives them enormous advantage over any country with no satellite delivering system

to be honest, war with china would be long, dragging, costly, and end with india on the loosing side...chinese have too many advantages over india and the only advantage india has over china is a massive booming population...

btw, the himalayan mountains can also be considered an advantage for it is what seperates india from china and is hard to breach in winter

Edited on, February 8, 2005, 7:56 AM GMT, by tiger_man.

[cricketfan]

radicalsami is right. No one in his sane mind will think of taking over Bangladesh. So it is an deterrent in itself.

For the information of tiger_man, Indian area is 30 times larger than BD and population only 7 times larger than BD. Indian population density( popolation per square kilometre) is 336 whereas it is 949 for BD.So Indian population will need to get three times of its current population before it can become as densly populated as BD. It will not happen in 10 years, perhaps it will never happen.

India is self sufficient in launching satellites. India has also successfully tested all ranges of missiles, including cruise missiles.

What plane does China manufacture?Is it Russian MiG planes under license. India also manufactures such planes in India.



Edited on, February 8, 2005, 12:03 PM GMT, by cricketfan.

[tiger_man]

Originally posted by cricketfan
radicalsami is right. No one in his sane mind will think of taking over Bangladesh. So it is an deterrent in itself.

For the information of tiger_man, Indian area is 30 times larger than BD and population only 7 times larger than BD. Indian population density( popolation per square kilometre) is 336 whereas it is 949 for BD.So Indian population will need to get three times of its current population before it can become as densly populated as BD. It will not happen in 10 years, perhaps it will never happen.

India is self sufficient in launching satellites. India has also successfully tested all ranges of missiles, including cruise missiles.

What plane does China manufacture?Is it Russian MiG planes under license. India also manufactures such planes in India.



Edited on, February 8, 2005, 12:03 PM GMT, by cricketfan.

china also manufactures its own brand of aeroplanes, and most of what india got is 1 aircraft carrier donated by britain
and china has several of its own and nuclear subs

in todays era, nuclear subs and aircraft carriers are capital weapons

india is half the size of australia and the population is growing fast....they might as well squeeze in little land from us then take on big neighbours...

they tried it with china in 1962 by occupying tibet but got kicked out

now they are holding onto kashmir with dear life.....

[Tintin]

>> and china has several of its own

From google, China's tally hardly seems impressive, except for one that is being built : http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/china.htm

http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/india.htm : India has only one as Vikrant has been scuttled. As mentioned in the link, we keep hearing reports once in a while of work being in progress.

[reverse_swing]

India will never attack Bangladesh for her own interest. Another thing is BD armed forces main motivation is not to fight against India. They know their limitations. If for example India attack us one day(it will never happen) then our armed forces will try to isolate India's 7 sisters from their main land. BD and Chinese army have this unofficial agreement since Zia's time. Indian Army is well aware of this fact. This is one of the reason our armed forces are heavily dependent on chinese products. Except last AL gov none of the previous govs including present BNP never went for strengthening our defence. Another thing around 70/80% of their(India) soldiers are standby to fight against Pakistan and China. So for strategic reason they will never decrease their power in those Indo/pak or Ind/Chinese borders. That is one of the reason we don't need to extend our army size.


Edited on, February 8, 2005, 12:41 PM GMT, by rezwan1977.

[cricketfan]

tiger_fan,
Most of your statements appear fabricated. Do you have any proof to substantiate the points you are trying to make about:
-Chinese manufactured planes,aircraft carriers etc
-Rate of growth of Indian population vis-a vis other countries
-About India trying to occupy Tibet ( even Dalai Lama who lives in India in exile will be aghast at your statement)
-About Kashmir
etc

Any reason for such rabid anti-India stance?

[reverse_swing]

Originally posted by cricketfan
tiger_fan,
Most of your statements appear fabricated. Do you have any proof to substantiate the points you are trying to make about:
-Chinese manufactured planes,aircraft carriers etc
-Rate of growth of Indian population vis-a vis other countries
-About India trying to occupy Tibet ( even Dalai Lama who lives in India in exile will be aghast at your statement)
-About Kashmir
etc

Any reason for such rabid anti-India stance?

Tiger_fan: Indians are very advanced in defence technology and self dependent.

Edited on, February 8, 2005, 12:41 PM GMT, by rezwan1977.