Bangladesh Air Force

[Afif]

BAF is holding 1st Air staff talk with PAF. This is significant.

Public face of Pakistan Air Force during Operation Sindoor in Dhaka to attend key meet with Bangladesh Air Force​

সোর্স: Northeast News - Northeast India news 24×7 - https://share.google/yy4mNajlXkffjBhva

Do read the article.


On a separate note, I hope PAF folks does some convincing on BAF leadership to go for J10CE.


Because 20 Typhoon Trench 4 with comprehensive weapon, logistics and training package costing close to $10 billions for Turkiye.

$7.2 billions for the jets and weapons. And later a mutli-billion pound contract for logistics, sustainment and training.

I don't know how we can manage a comprehensive package for 12x typhoons trench 4 for $2.5-3 billions only.

Maybe they will buy 10 Typhoon for $3 billions. And then we will have 60% fleet readiness. That means only 6 jets combat mission ready at any given time. No matter how advanced typhoon Trench 4 with P4 enhancement is, this number is uncomfortably low.

With 20 J20CE for 2.2 billions we can have 12x jets ready for combat mission at any time assuming 60% readiness. With more resources free for MRSAM and LRSAM purchase. Only problem with this, is Myanmar might end up buying J10CE down the line 5 years from now.

Frankly the best choice for us would have been KF21. It is stealthy, capable and reasonably priced. Also South Korea does provide LoC.

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan Air Force team in Dhaka proposes advanced training for Bangladesh Air Force pilots at Sargodha’s Mushaf airbase

A Pakistan Air Force delegation, which is on a five-day visit to Dhaka, gifted a Chinese JF-17 fighter’s flight simulator

share.google

PAF gifts flight simulator to BAF

 

[Al-Zakir]

Pakistan Air Force team in Dhaka proposes advanced training for Bangladesh Air Force pilots at Sargodha’s Mushaf airbase

A Pakistan Air Force delegation, which is on a five-day visit to Dhaka, gifted a Chinese JF-17 fighter’s flight simulator

share.google

PAF gifts flight simulator to BAF

Does this mean, BAF is getting JF-17?

 

[Afif]

Does this mean, BAF is getting JF-17?

Low probability. But we will find out whether it is Typhoon, J10CE or JF17 B3 before end of this year.

 

[Fatman17]

Does this mean, BAF is getting JF-17?

Possibly

 

[Al-Zakir]

Possibly

Some media is claiming that PM Shahbaaz Shareef and FM Asim Munir will visit Bd soon after BD PM completes his china visit.

If that happen then I expect comprehensive defense deal with Pak to be on horizon.

Lets wait and

 

[BananaRepublic]

You have packed a lot in so I am going to try to unpack as much as I can. The Americans were indeed backing the Jamaat for power and part of that agenda was to create animosity towards India which is considered the biggest obstacle to Jamaat forming the government. Creating anti-Indian sentiment was not very difficult as the public has a general distrust of India and for good reason. At the same time India is concerned of an Islamist takeover in Bangladesh that would be guided by America and Pakistan. India would naturally be concerned that an Islamist takeover would cause instability in the whole region. India has however not endeared itself to the Bangladesh public and engaged in subversive activities especially under Congress but the BJP had also similarly supported the Awami League for more than a decade and so angered the Bangladeshi people. To thwart the Jamaat coming to power in the 2026 elections New Delhi supported the BNP as the AL was not in the field and even extracted certain concessions from the BNP leadership. However, just after 3 months in power the BNP has adopted the Interim Government foreign policy under Khalilur Rahman and is engaging Pakistan and seeking to accommodate the United States and also China. We have seen in the last few weeks many Pakistani military officials visiting Bangladesh and have undertaken several military projects in the country. The BNP has also increased the defense budget for purchase of numerous military assets that may include the J-17 and also attack helicopters amongst other things. At the same time the Americans are pushing for the signing of the GSOMIA and ACSA. The real question is does the BNP have a defense strategy behind all this or is it merely seeking to undermine foreign support for the Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP and prevent another regime change operation as some say occurred in 2024. If there is a defense strategy behind this then who devised it or has the BNP simply accepted whatever is being pushed at them by foreign interests like the purchase of 15 Boeing jets we don't need? The BNP has effectively over the last few weeks stolen the thunder of both the Awami League and Jamaat and neutralized both. The BNP will however find that it cannot please everyone and also may have caused distress in New Delhi but also caution in Washington and Beijing. The Washington project was simply not for defense procurements and reestablishing ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh but also to 'Islamize' and 'radicalise' the country (something like what was done in Pakistan under Ziaul Haq) but this is something the BNP is unlikely to do but who knows.

Looks like India has completely fallen out of favour in Washington.

Indians were cocky thinking Trump would let them ride roughshod in South Asia.

But India fell out of favour because they didn’t accept the quid pro quo I.e. surrendering geopolitical sovereignty to USA.

Pakistan outbid India like they did during the Cold War - by having no qualms about surrendering sovereignty to USA.

One of the rewards for that surrender is a bigger role in Bangladesh.

I can see the weak BD government buying a lot of Pakistani military hardware.

Given the state of Bangladesh’s economy - it cannot afford to buy Boeing planes it doesn’t need. And buying Pakistani military hardware that it cannot afford or has use for.

 

[Afif]

Looks like India has completely fallen out of favour in Washington.

Indians were cocky thinking Trump would let them ride roughshod in South Asia.

But India fell out of favour because they didn’t accept the quid pro quo I.e. surrendering geopolitical sovereignty to USA.

Pakistan outbid India like they did during the Cold War - by having no qualms about surrendering sovereignty to USA.

One of the rewards for that surrender is a bigger role in Bangladesh.

I can see the weak BD government buying a lot of Pakistani military hardware. that it cannot afford or has use for.

Yeah, eurofighter, TUSAS T129 attack helicopter, Aselsan HISAR O AD, sounds like a lot of Pakistani hardware that we have no use for.

Democratically elected government purchasing urgently needed hardware. Such a wEaK move!

Fascist dictator deliberately left armed forces without any neccesary purchases for a decade and a half at the will of her masters....such a power move... Aren't those good old days for the traitors over.

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

Yeah, eurofighter, TUSAS T129 attack helicopter, Aselsan HISAR O AD, sounds like a lot of Pakistani hardware that we have no use for.

Just like hindustanis, illegitimate hindustani spawns left in Bangladesh has the same opinion. Turkish System=Pakistani System.

Democratically elected government purchasing urgently needed hardware. Such a wEaK move!

Fascist dictator deliberately left armed forces without any neccesary purchases for a decade and a half at the will of her masters....such a power move... Aren't those good old days for the traitors over.

Hey, we are purchasing weapons that can be used against their daddy. So at least thing they can do is to cry out loud to show loyalty...

 

[LeonBlack08]

Yeah, eurofighter, TUSAS T129 attack helicopter, Aselsan HISAR O AD, sounds like a lot of Pakistani hardware that we have no use for.

Democratically elected government purchasing urgently needed hardware. Such a wEaK move!

Fascist dictator deliberately left armed forces without any neccesary purchases for a decade and a half at the will of her masters....such a power move... Aren't those good old days for the traitors over.

"A good Bangladesh is a toothless defenseless Bangladesh, ready for ghar wapasi" - typical Akhand Bharath mega fan

 

[BananaRepublic]

"A good Bangladesh is a toothless defenseless Bangladesh, ready for ghar wapasi" - typical Akhand Bharath mega fan

Bangladesh will still be “toothless” but a lot poorer and at higher risk due to US and Pakistani involvements.

Bangladesh’s situation is analogous to the UAE situation relative to Iran.

Arming itself with expensive gear and hosting US - didn’t make itself safe against Iran.

All it did was make UAE a target of Iranian ire.

If you think India will be scared because BD has a few jets - you are deluded.

It’s simple math!

India can afford to escalate, Bangladesh cannot because of the price.

 

[MNZGamerX]

If you think India will be scared because BD has a few jets - you are deluded.

I am puzzled by the purchase of J-17 jets or the excitement over the whole thing as 15 fighter aircraft poses no real threat to India which has over 550 and how are we to protect these jets in the event of war? We don't have underground hangers or bunkers where these jets can be stored. If it came to war India could wipe out most of our military assets without even needing to cross the border. While I support such purchases to modernize our military these recent allocations and proposed procurements are not a game changer in any shape or form. To really have an effective and strong defense would require massive procurements stretching over the next decade. Some idiots are saying that if India invades Bangladesh we will be able to defend ourselves and push India back. India doesn't need to invade Bangladesh as it can cause sufficient damage just by sitting on its side of the border and blockading the country from the land and sea.

What all this idiocy over the purchase of fighter jets and other military equipment suggests to me is that there is no defense strategy or plan involved and we are just following someone else's plan in the expectation that if hostilities were to ensue our foreign 'benefactors' will come to our aid and send troops and military equipment. First which countries are going to do this and how? The only countries that realistically could provide such assistance is the United States or China. I doubt very much the USA will want to get involved in a direct war with India and would much prefer to use Bangladesh as a proxy instead while China is unlikely to want to get engaged in such a war as Beijing is focused more on the US as a possible adversary while India is more of a distraction.

I do feel that the fighter jet procurement while necessary (but only the start of a process that will take years to properly implement) is being used as a red flag to the Indians to create a hostile situation between the countries for the benefit of certain external powers. If there were a defense strategy or plan our procurements would be focusing on other things as well but this seems to be absent. I just don't feel that we have a defense strategy or plan of our own that takes consideration of our geography and our defense needs to ward of an Indian threat. Fighter jets and attack helicopters would however be of more value against Myanmar but would we allowed to use J-17s against that country without Chinese consent. If instead we were to host US bases and be permitted to procure American, European and allied made weaponry and armaments this would possibly be considered a threat by both India and China.

I also think we need to update our perspective on India. While under the Congress Party there was a policy to achieve an an Akhand Bharat as described in my book the BJP really doesn't want that as they have a very different objective which if implemented would pose a serious problem for Bangladesh but the nature of that threat is different and requires a different military approach. Unfortunately idiots like Mahmudur Rahman, Pinaki and the Jamaatis they are still harping on about an Akhand Bharat. While useful as propaganda it doesn't reflect on what the BJP may want to actually do but this is something the above mentioned so-called intellectuals do not understand.

 

[BananaRepublic]

I am puzzled by the purchase of J-17 jets or the excitement over the whole thing as 15 fighter aircraft poses no real threat to India which has over 550 and how are we to protect these jets in the event of war? We don't have underground hangers or bunkers where these jets can be stored. If it came to war India could wipe out most of our military assets without even needing to cross the border. While I support such purchases to modernize our military these recent allocations and proposed procurements are not a game changer in any shape or form. To really have an effective and strong defense would require massive procurements stretching over the next decade. Some idiots are saying that if India invades Bangladesh we will be able to defend ourselves and push India back. India doesn't need to invade Bangladesh as it can cause sufficient damage just by sitting on its side of the border and blockading the country from the land and sea.

What all this idiocy over the purchase of fighter jets and other military equipment suggests to me is that there is no defense strategy or plan involved and we are just following someone else's plan in the expectation that if hostilities were to ensue our foreign 'benefactors' will come to our aid and send troops and military equipment. First which countries are going to do this and how? The only countries that realistically could provide such assistance is the United States or China. I doubt very much the USA will want to get involved in a direct war with India and would much prefer to use Bangladesh as a proxy instead while China is unlikely to want to get engaged in such a war as Beijing is focused more on the US as a possible adversary while India is more of a distraction.

I do feel that the fighter jet procurement while necessary (but only the start of a process that will take years to properly implement) is being used as a red flag to the Indians to create a hostile situation between the countries for the benefit of certain external powers. If there were a defense strategy or plan our procurements would be focusing on other things as well but this seems to be absent. I just don't feel that we have a defense strategy or plan of our own that takes consideration of our geography and our defense needs to ward of an Indian threat. Fighter jets and attack helicopters would however be of more value against Myanmar but would we allowed to use J-17s against that country without Chinese consent. If instead we were to host US bases and be permitted to procure American, European and allied made weaponry and armaments this would possibly be considered a threat by both India and China.

I also think we need to update our perspective on India. While under the Congress Party there was a policy to achieve an an Akhand Bharat as described in my book the BJP really doesn't want that as they have a very different objective which if implemented would pose a serious problem for Bangladesh but the nature of that threat is different and requires a different military approach. Unfortunately idiots like Mahmudur Rahman, Pinaki and the Jamaatis they are still harping on about an Akhand Bharat. While useful as propaganda it doesn't reflect on what the BJP may want to actually do but this is something the above mentioned so-called intellectuals do not understand.

Procurement of the fighter jets serve no sensible defence strategy.

It maybe an asset for UN led missions.

Hasina rightly focussed on the navy where Bangladesh needs to protect its water from smugglers and pirates.

Bangladesh “Air Force” should be geared towards rescue and relief operations. So, large helicopters and cargo planes.

The fighter jets seems to have been bought to pacify arm chair generals and wannabe fighter jet pilots.

Given Bangladesh’s geography, concentration of commerce in two cities and population density - it’s extremely vulnerable to even a small guerrilla army.

Which requires 100s of billions and full support of Uncle Sam - and Israel still gets bombed regularly.

The only sensible defence strategy for Bangladesh is to be like the Swiss. I.e. stay neutral and don’t engage in arm chair Ghengism like the Younus mob!!!

Given the dire straits of the economy - Bangladesh’s threat is internal - from hungry mobs.

Spending scarce resources on “jets” will only make the hungry mob bigger.

 

[LeonBlack08]

@MNZGamerX @BananaRepublic

Have you both looked at the list of items in the procurement list? It's not just the jets, its everything from radar infrastructure to short range (MANPADS) and medium range SAMs to drones.

Why are you both obsessing over just the jets?

Be it EFT or JF 17 or J10, you need jets to act as deterrent. Iran war clearly showed that missiles alone can only take you so far. You need jets to protect airspace in addition to AD and prevent enemies from freely roaming in your territory and bombing at will. Did you know that even Iran with its 1970s jets launched attacks in UAE along with the drones?

And 10-16 jets sounds small, and it is small. But considering the position BAF is in, it is a start. You don't build a modern air force overnight. Are we expecting Bangladesh to buy 600 jets to compete with India?

Also - we are not only talking about India here. We have another potential threat to our south who are on par with us in terms of military strength. Like India, they also have a hatred for Muslim Bengalis. Had we been militarily capable, we could have prevented the entire Rohingya debacle.

BAF being limited to search and rescue ops is the most defeatist statement I have heard. But this is nothing new. This has been propagated by BAL since the independence.

If smaller countries should refrain from building an air force, why is Taiwan bothering to arm itself to the teeth. Even with US support, it is puny in front of China.

The objective is not to compete or even win the war against a superior power. Rather to make the victory very expensive for the aggressor to the extent the cost-benefit ratio no longer justifies an invasion.

Let's get back to topic. If you both want to discuss this further, I can move these conversations to an appropriate thread.

 

[LeonBlack08]

Bangladesh will still be “toothless” but a lot poorer and at higher risk due to US and Pakistani involvements.

Bangladesh’s situation is analogous to the UAE situation relative to Iran.

Arming itself with expensive gear and hosting US - didn’t make itself safe against Iran.

All it did was make UAE a target of Iranian ire.

If you think India will be scared because BD has a few jets - you are deluded.

It’s simple math!

India can afford to escalate, Bangladesh cannot because of the price.

UAE actively launched attacks into Iran as well. It became target of Iran because of geographic proximity, but it also was able to intercept a ton of missiles and drones precisely because it had armed itself to teeth.

You are proposing Bangladesh to turn it's air force to be confined to search and rescue ops. This is not a new concept. Has been floated by India and it's BAL slaves since the independence.

How do you intend to defend Bangladesh if Myanmar launches an invasion tomorrow to annex Chittagong? Do you have any response to their JF 17 and SU 30s?

How do you intend to defend your economic zones with rescue helicopters? Please do tell.

This is not just foolishness, but intentionally lobbying for an outright sabotage of Bangladesh's national security. In other words - you are acting very much like a traitor.