Bangladesh Air Force

[Afif]

Good to see that he understands the modern battlefield has changed because of AI and tech. And the fact that eventually the air force will need to evolve into Air and Space force. Forward looking and understands the emerging risk, that's very positive.

Yeah, this guy is competent. At least appeared to be concerned about his true duty and BAF's much needed capability development.

Also if noticed, he talked about working on adding network warfare capability. Hope they adapt mobile C2 nodes like PAF. This is the way forward.

 

[BananaRepublic]

If Hasina was so strategic, why did Hasina go for the poorly thought out expensive Mig 29 purchase then? She placed order for 16. Not only that, they came handicapped without armament package, lacking features that would allow it to act as effective deterrent. In essence it was toothless.

Khaleda Zia wisely blocked the second batch. These Migs had been immense resource drag for Bangladesh for last 3 decades. They are bloody expensive to operate considering the very limited value they now add.

Since her tactic was "guerrilla focused" - Why didn't she buy a SINGLE mid to long range SAMs in the 15 years she was in power? They would have been cheaper than fighters. She just bought short range FM 90 good enough for low flying aircraft but can't do anything against high altitude targets, be it Indian or Burmese. What's the rationale behind this lack of action in 15+ years? I will save you the trouble - Indian intervention.

How do you intend to defend your naval assets without an air force and air defense? Have you seen what happened to Iranian navy's primary fleet? Just got picked off at will from air with almost no resistance.

Bangladesh relying solely on guerilla warfare historically is not because Bangladesh didn't need an air force, rather a combination of different factors. One was political - Ziaur Rahman completely broke the backbone of the air force because of the 1977 air force coup attempt. The other factor has always been economic. We were always strapped for resources. And finally - Indian interference blocking any meaningful defence acquisition.

If Bangladesh under Hasina was really strategic about "guerilla" or asymmetric warfare as you claim - Bangladesh would already have a decent multi layered Air Defence, a domestic missile and drone production facility in place.

The reason we don't have any of those in large scale is solely because Indian interference through "Bangladeshi" agents whose loyalty does not lie with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh needed a small number of jets for air cover for the navy.

And the Migs were the only ones on offer.

Khaleda vindictively blocked the second batch meaning BD did not have a viable air force.

And have been hamstrung since.

So, BD went from a sensible strategy under Hasina - to a vindictive strategy under Khaleda - to a bankruptcy strategy under Younus.

Khaleda, the vindictive 8th grader, who celebrated her fake birthday on Mujib’s death anniversary!

An illiterate like her should never have become PM.

Couldn’t even manage a basic SSC pass!

 

[studsmart]

That's not how training exercises work. Those are always declared in advanced.



If IAF Rafale actually detected PAF J10CE emission locking onto it, it probably would've survived.

Besides, we are likely buying Eurofighter anyway.

Both EF and Rafael were decimated in exercises and in real war... I am not sure why BAF will pass on J10C for these 2 European options to replace mig29? For F7 [variants], why would BAF not consider JF17C or similar? To streamline, BAF could just go with one type, either JF17C in numbers or J10C, to have a solid 4,5 gen fighter fleet. The economy of scale will help lower many other costs, including training and support.

 

[Avicenna]

The fact that BD under Hasina did so little to build capability AFTER the 2017 Rohingya debacle is all anyone with triple digit IQ needs to see what the problem is.

There was never intent as @LeonBlack08 has alluded to.

Whether this was the incompetence/corruption internally or external factors, it happened under Hasina's watch.

Say what you want about the interim government but the facts remain things have started moving post-Hasina.

I wonder why that is @BananaRepublic

Hasina was India's servant.

Now inshAllah I hope the decision makers come up with a coherent and comprehensive plan of action and EXECUTE.

 

[Afif]

Both EF and Rafael were decimated in exercises and in real war...

I forgot if it was @side-winder or @AeronautIR who clarified the context of this Typhoon Vs J10CE thing in Qatari exercise. I can't find that post. But the bottom line is, this is not what people thinking it is.

I am not sure why BAF will pass on J10C for these 2 European options to replace mig29? For F7 [variants], why would BAF not consider JF17C or similar? To streamline, BAF could just go with one type, either JF17C in numbers or J10C, to have a solid 4,5 gen fighter fleet. The economy of scale will help lower many other costs, including training and support.

Rafale is not being considered. It is Eurofighter T4 for BAF. And It is not to replace F7s or Mig-29. Those Mig29 only recently gone through their extensive MLU upgrades. F7s still have some service life left to them.

BAF had the chance to thoroughly evaluate both Eurofighter and J10CE. BAF chief and his accompanying pilots did that in Italy and China. If they choose Eurofighter over J10CE I would trust their decision.

And It would make sense, as Myanmar has the possibility to acquire both J10CE and JF17 B3 in the future. Which would eliminate any qualitative advantage that BD would gain by buying those platforms.

 

[Avicenna]

Rafale is not being considered. It is Eurofighter T4 for BAF. And It is not to replace F7s or Mig-29. Those Mig29 only recently gone through their extensive MLU upgrades. F7s still have some service life left to them.

BAF had the chance to thoroughly evaluate both Eurofighter and J10CE. BAF chief and his accompanying pilots did that in Italy and China. If they choose Eurofighter over J10CE I would trust their decision.

And It would make sense, as Myanmar has the possibility to acquire both J10CE and JF17 B3 in the future. Which would eliminate any qualitative advantage that BD would gain by buying those platforms.

I would also add if BD and Turkey further cooperate then its not completely inconsequential that they are obtaining the Eurofighter as well.

Between cooperation and training with PAF and TAF, BAF will have the ability to make up for its deficient recent past capabilities.

Anyways, whatever type/types the BAF obtains will have its pros and cons.

The important thing is the inertia will be broken.

 

[royalharris]

I would also add if BD and Turkey further cooperate then its not completely inconsequential that they are obtaining the Eurofighter as well.

Between cooperation and training with PAF and TAF, BAF will have the ability to make up for its deficient recent past capabilities.

Anyways, whatever type/types the BAF obtains will have its pros and cons.

The important thing is the inertia will be broken.

Buy the Typhoon. The Typhoon suits you best.

 

[LeonBlack08]

Bangladesh needed a small number of jets for air cover for the navy.

So finally, now you do agree that we need a potent air force with fighter jets to protect naval and land military assets.

You were asking for strategy for jet acquisition, there you go.

 

[Bengal71]

Rafale is not being considered. It is Eurofighter T4 for BAF. And It is not to replace F7s or Mig-29. Those Mig29 only recently gone through their extensive MLU upgrades. F7s still have some service life left to them.

BAF had the chance to thoroughly evaluate both Eurofighter and J10CE. BAF chief and his accompanying pilots did that in Italy and China. If they choose Eurofighter over J10CE I would trust their decision.

And It would make sense, as Myanmar has the possibility to acquire both J10CE and JF17 B3 in the future. Which would eliminate any qualitative advantage that BD would gain by buying those platforms.

I would trust their decision in earning a lot of corruption money by choosing EF.

 

[hussain0216]

What's the make up of the Bangladesh air force at the moment?

What's your main fighter and BVR and do you have ground attack and anti ship capabilities?

 

[Fatman17]

Why Bangladesh could raise Indian red flags by buying a China-Pakistan fighter jet​

Dhaka could be boosting its air power with the reported acquisition of a JF-17 flight simulator.
​

 

[Fatman17]

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[BananaRepublic]

So finally, now you do agree that we need a potent air force with fighter jets to protect naval and land military assets.

You were asking for strategy for jet acquisition, there you go.

My point is that airforce for naval cover was already being done via MIGs.

Why add another ecosystem to the mix - at massive overhead - unless there’s a new strategy.

BD can buy old MIGs - saving money - if it’s only for naval cover against pirates and smugglers.

 

[LeonBlack08]

My point is that airforce for naval cover was already being done via MIGs.

Why add another ecosystem to the mix - at massive overhead - unless there’s a new strategy.

BD can buy old MIGs - saving money - if it’s only for naval cover against pirates and smugglers.

The current Migs after their mid life upgrade in Belarus is capable of Naval strikes, not air superiority. They still lack the avionics and armament package for BVR engagement. I won't even go into the unreliability of platform and Russian logistical support, the amount of downtime the Migs face compared to other 4+ generation platforms.

You need a platform to ensure the skies are clear so that your land and naval assets are not taken off at enemy's will. You need fighters capable in air to air combat. We don't have a single platform that can effectively achieve that. F7s can do point defence at best, but are sitting ducks in BVR engagement.

Also - in terms of numbers, it is not sufficient either. When 16 Migs were ordered in 1998, we had a couple of old frigates and one modern Ulsan class frigate (BNS Khalid Bin Walid) on order. Compared to that, we now have a significant more number of naval and land assets & infrastructure to defend. Therefore you need air to air combat capable fighters in sufficient numbers to keep the skies clear and protect your assets.

 

[BananaRepublic]

The current Migs after their mid life upgrade in Belarus is capable of Naval strikes, not air superiority. They still lack the avionics and armament package for BVR engagement. I won't even go into the unreliability of platform and Russian logistical support, the amount of downtime the Migs face compared to other 4+ generation platforms.

You need a platform to ensure the skies are clear so that your land and naval assets are not taken off at enemy's will. You need fighters capable in air to air combat. We don't have a single platform that can effectively achieve that. F7s can do point defence at best, but are sitting ducks in BVR engagement.

Also - in terms of numbers, it is not sufficient either. When 16 Migs were ordered in 1998, we had a couple of old frigates and one modern Ulsan class frigate (BNS Khalid Bin Walid) on order. Compared to that, we now have a significant more number of naval and land assets & infrastructure to defend. Therefore you need air to air combat capable fighters in sufficient numbers to keep the skies clear and protect your assets.

If the plan is to rapidly retire the MIGs and J17 have been bought to provide cover to the navy as replacements - then that’s sticking to the strategy.

But why hasn’t the government explained all this.

Whatever the strategy - it needs to be public.