Bangladesh Ordnance Factory (BOF) updates

[John Smith]

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Has there been any independent assessment of our domestic BD-08, BD-15 and Type-56 assault rifles? They are currently the standard rifle of our military. Is there something wrong with them?

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I do believe that our domestic version can be improved if we can get the ToT. I have faith in our country's engineers. If only more money is poured into R&D.

 

[John Smith]

I have heard the BOF plans on modernising and establising new production lines. Here's what Wikipedia lists:

1. Opening production line for Anti Tank Guided Weapon (ATGM).
2. Opening production line for MANPADS.
3. Opening more modern production line for 105 mm and new production line for 155 mm artillery shells with Free Flowforming technology and computerized machinery from Turkish company REPKON.
4. Opening fuze manufacturing production line for 105 mm, 122 mm, 130 mm and 155 mm artillery shells.
5. Opening fuze manufacturing production line for 60 mm and 82 mm mortar bombs.
6. Opening 40 mm grenade production line for automatic grenade launcher.
7. Establishment of different types of computer numerical control (CNC) machining center.

But the sources on these are all atleast a year or more older. Is there no update?

Also, I do think our Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre can get into drone and missile production. Yes, long range ICBMs are unrealistic, but I think the medium and shorter range missiles are easier to make, cheaper. Plus it is also more useful for us. Because our main threats are Myanmar and India. Using short and medium range missiles, which we can produce in the hundreds or thousands, we can keep their forces at bay and effectively hit important cities and bases close-by.

Also, I think drone production is something we should explore. Both the kamikaze drones like Gerans, Lancets, Shaheds etc. that Iran and Russia are producing. Despite their low cost and relatively low complexity, they've been wreaking havoc on Ukrainian forces in the Ukraine War. And its thanks to Russia's industrial production of them.
We can also start mass producing FPV drones. I think I don't have to stress the importance of smaller, cheaper drones in today's warfare. For the cheaper drones, we can get license from China's DJI, I think. I'm not sure about the kamikaze drones, as cooperating with Russia or Iran might invite harsh sanctions.

Our shipyards should be able to produce gunboats, fast attack boats and smaller corvettes, frigates, perhaps even destroyers one day. i think the age of the aircraft carriers are rapidly ending. Even if it didn't, Bangladesh has no need for carriers. The Chittagong and Khulna shipyards have experience in small scale shipbuilding.

I think for these drones and missiles, Bangladesh has the sufficient scientists and engineers. We should invest and pay them large salaries. A lot of people would definitely want to work for their country if they knew it meant something.

 

[LeonBlack08]

There is some good news. Have you guys read it? @LeonBlack08 @AbuShalehRumi

What news?

 

[Afif]

What news?

Army is acquiring 55 acres in Chattogram to build a second BOF facility. Likely to operate Repkon 105/155mm artillery round production line that was acquired from Türkiye, as well as some other capabilities.

 

[LeonBlack08]

Army is acquiring 55 acres in Chattogram to build a second BOF facility. Likely to operate Repkon 105/155mm artillery round production line that was acquired from Türkiye, as well as some other capabilities.

That's a good news! Manufacturing artillery rounds is a big step forward.

 

[John Smith]

So, has there been any recent news on which gun we are going to procure as our next battle rifle?
Last I heard, the AK-12 has been eliminated as a candidate and now the most likely candidate is CZ Bren 2 BR. But, I can't find any news on it.
And ofc whichever gun we decide on, ToT should be a must. And I think we should start a production line for 5.56x45mm rounds in BOF

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

So, has there been any recent news on which gun we are going to procure as our next battle rifle?
Last I heard, the AK-12 has been eliminated as a candidate and now the most likely candidate is CZ Bren 2 BR. But, I can't find any news on it.
And ofc whichever gun we decide on, ToT should be a must. And I think we should start a production line for 5.56x45mm rounds in BOF

I think first we need to switch to a more modern intermediate caliber for defeating modern body armor plates. Like 6.5 creedmoor or Grendel etc.
.
CZ Bren 2 is already outdated as more refined Bren 3 is already there. BTW, latest version of Zastava M19 is also good and will be much more cheaper.
.
To answer your question: I heard army is in love with CZ Bren 2 platform...

 

[John Smith]

I think first we need to switch to a more modern intermediate caliber for defeating modern body armor plates. Like 6.5 creedmoor or Grendel etc.
.
CZ Bren 2 is already outdated as more refined Bren 3 is already there. BTW, latest version of Zastava M19 is also good and will be much more cheaper.
.
To answer your question: I heard army is in love with CZ Bren 2 platform...

I think there's a possibility that if we can manufacture them here, we can modify and improve them to our requirements, like we did with BD-15 and BD-08.
idk about 6.5 creedmoor since its a round designed for long ranges, we already have 7.62mm for that. But, what we need is a rifle that can handle the 5.56mm since thats more effective in medium-short ranges which is where most military engagements in modern war take place. ARX160 and CZ Bren is good since it can be adopted both to the 7.62mm that Bangladesh army is familiar with, while also able to be modified for 5.56mm whhich is what we need to adopt.

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

I think there's a possibility that if we can manufacture them here, we can modify and improve them to our requirements, like we did with BD-15 and BD-08.

We aren't that good with guns or metallurgy. Because we don't have a gun culture or innovative population. Unfortunately!
.
We must choose a well refined gun to begin with...

idk about 6.5 creedmoor since its a round designed for long ranges

It is a intermediate range cartridge with much better ballistics, efficiency and recoil. UKs latest DMRs are 6.5 creedmoor based instead of 7.62×51 NATO.

we already have 7.62mm for that

Our standard cartridge is 7.62×39. It is a Soviet era cartridge even Russians don't use it as standard.

what we need is a rifle that can handle the 5.56mm since thats more effective in medium-short ranges which is where most military engagements in modern war take place

I like 5.56×45 NATO. It has less weight so soldiers can carry more ammo, it has less recoil so soldiers can shoot accurately, it is fast and has flatter trajectory. Its has its benefits. But It can't defeat modern body armor.
.
US is trying to replace it with 6.8×51 fury hybrid cartridge.

ARX160 and CZ Bren is good since it can be adopted both to the 7.62mm that Bangladesh army is familiar with, while also able to be modified for 5.56mm whhich is what we need to adopt.

These are good rifles no doubt. But, these are short stroke gas piston operated rifles. That makes them complex, expensive and they need more care than our current Chinese AK copies.
.
Beretta discontinued ARX for NARP series rifles. CZ Bren 3 has refinements from lessons of Russia-Ukraine war. So I will vote CZ Bren...
.
If we adopt a new cartridge we have to find a middle ground between 556 NATO and 7.62 NATO.

 

[John Smith]

We aren't that good with guns or metallurgy. Because we don't have a gun culture or innovative population. Unfortunately!

Thats not an excuse not to try. Everything has a beginning. Its not like you need a civilian gun culture to make good weapons. The Chinese, Italians, Austrians etc. don't have gun culture yet they make the best weapons. I think we had a decent attempt with BD-08 and BD-15. We can definitely do some more R&D. And I think gun and bullet R&D is less costly than other weapons and hardware.

We must choose a well refined gun to begin with...

It is a intermediate range cartridge with much better ballistics, efficiency and recoil. UKs latest DMRs are 6.5 creedmoor based instead of 7.62×51 NATO.

Our standard cartridge is 7.62×39. It is a Soviet era cartridge even Russians don't use it as standard.

I like 5.56×45 NATO. It has less weight so soldiers can carry more ammo, it has less recoil so soldiers can shoot accurately, it is fast and has flatter trajectory. Its has its benefits. But It can't defeat modern body armor.
.
US is trying to replace it with 6.8×51 fury hybrid cartridge.

Our soldiers have experience with that cartridge so 7.62mm is good. We shouldn't completely eliminate it ofcourse, we should have an option for longer ranges. I'm not very knowledgeable on the 6.5mm cartridge. Is it better at penetrating armor than 7.62? and has longer range?

These are good rifles no doubt. But, these are short stroke gas piston operated rifles. That makes them complex, expensive and they need more care than our current Chinese AK copies.
.
Beretta discontinued ARX for NARP series rifles. CZ Bren 3 has refinements from lessons of Russia-Ukraine war. So I will vote CZ Bren...
.
If we adopt a new cartridge we have to find a middle ground between 556 NATO and 7.62 NATO.

I agree that Bren 3 should be our choice. If not, perhaps we can license some of the newer AK-series rifles from Russia. They too should be battle-tested by now.

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

Thats not an excuse not to try. Everything has a beginning. Its not like you need a civilian gun culture to make good weapons. The Chinese, Italians, Austrians etc. don't have gun culture yet they make the best weapons. I think we had a decent attempt with BD-08 and BD-15. We can definitely do some more R&D. And I think gun and bullet R&D is less costly than other weapons and hardware.

I don't think we are capable of our own. But we should try.

Our soldiers have experience with that cartridge so 7.62mm is good.

Nope, our standard assault 7.62 is Soviet era 7.62×39 cartridge. Which is a bad assault cartridge. We also use 7.62×54mmR cartridge for our dragunov DMR.
.
We should use more lighter and lower recoil assault cartridge.

I'm not very knowledgeable on the 6.5mm cartridge. Is it better at penetrating armor than 7.62? and has longer range?

UK is replacing its 7.62×51 NATO DMR stocks with 6.5 creedmoor DMRs. So...

f not, perhaps we can license some of the newer AK-series rifles from Russia.

Yak! Russian are making the worser AKs these days. Serbian Zastava M19 is the rifle you can call a modern AK...

 

[John Smith]

https://xcancel.com/DefenseDtb/status/1956223349182619905#m

I've seen a bunch of other photos of BD army personnel using or inspecting CZ Bren 2. Does that basically confirm thats what we're buying.

 

[John Smith]

Yak! Russian are making the worser AKs these days. Serbian Zastava M19 is the rifle you can call a modern AK...

I don't we should bother too much with what the UK military does. Theirs has basically become a joke. They can't get an aircraft carrier out of port without it failing to start or crashing.

Anyways, I think if we wait a few years, I think Russia and China will bring out new rifles, with lessons learned from the Ukraine war. We can then buy those. They'd be cheaper, less complex and with more lenient ToT terms. Plus, easier for R&D
btw what do you think of the AK-105, atleast for our special forces? They already have experience with AK platforms and the AK-105 has pretty good reviews

 

[John Smith]

Also, btw what do you guys think of MRAPs in warfare? MRAPs were design mostly for fighting insurgents with mines and IEDs. It worked well in Afghanistan and Iraq.
But, in the Ukraine war, it doesn't seem like MRAPs work very well. I've seen dozens of videos of MRAP vehicles being taken out, especially the Maxxpro and Roshel Senators. It seems like APCs and BMPs are much better suited. Also, Bradleys are pretty good, even the Russians heaped praises on the Bradley IFV. Do you think the army should trasnfer its MRAPs to the law enforcement and focus on buying more APCs or amphibious vehicles like BMPs, or other IFVs like Bradleys?

 

[AbuShalehRumi]

I don't we should bother too much with what the UK military does.

Man RMA Sandhurst is one of the best Military academy in the world with a rich military history of innovation.

They can't get an aircraft carrier out of port without it failing to start or crashing.

Those aircraft carriers have lots of novel military techs in them. It is normal to have bugs in them. Even Type 45 had lots of issues initially...

Anyways, I think if we wait a few years, I think Russia and China will bring out new rifles, with lessons learned from the Ukraine war. We can then buy those. They'd be cheaper, less complex and with more lenient ToT terms. Plus, easier for R&D

Modern short stroke gas piston AR-15 type for assault rifle and Direct Impingement AR-10 type for Automatic DMR is the way to go in my POV. Our special forces love AR platform so we have experience handling them, ARs are well refined, ARs are modular, ARs have huge accessories market and caliber choices.

btw what do you think of the AK-105, atleast for our special forces? They already have experience with AK platforms and the AK-105 has pretty good reviews

When you minus AKs legendary reliability and cheap procurement costs. AKs sucks in almost everywhere. Mostly because AKs weren't continuously updated and refined like its AR counterpart...

Our special forces love AR platform...