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Bangladesh Air Force

I would respectfully disagree with the view that BAF either

a) cannot afford or
b) does not want

air-superiority or at least air-defense assets.

To wit,

1. The dispersed airfields during PAF times are still available and some have been modernized in the last five or so years.
2. Because our AF budget is on the low side, there won't be a priority to equip BAF well at this time.

However I would posit that the BAF (along with all other armed national defense services in Bangladesh except maybe Home Ministry/RAB or armed police) do possess independent decision-making ability on their asset budgeting and procurement. Hasina plays it nice with the armed forces and leaves them alone. Doing otherwise has boded ill for the tenure of all PM's historically.

All Chief of Staff of the armed forces maintain tactful protocol with the Prime Minister and it is reportedly a quid-pro-quo situation.

They run things independently without undue influence in civilian affairs. And in return they expect and get the arms that they feel they want per the overtly published 'Forces Goal 2030' and other covert assets. Building the Navy is the priority at this time for obvious reasons. BAF is the third child after the army and will get leftover funds for now.

While Bangladesh won't be getting 4th Gen. air-superiority fighters anytime soon (your assessment is accurate about overt neglect of BAF), we still can't rule this out being available in small numbers for training needs. We won't be trumpeting the acquisition of assets and asking everyone in the neighborhood for their opinion on this, It happens when it does. I trust the judgment of the senior BAF leaders. They understand that their country is not on a war footing and that funds are limited for expensive defense purchases.

That said - for a country in Bangladesh' defense posture profile, we have had both the Navy and Army's air wing equipment heavily modernized. SHORAD defenses have also been deployed along the coastline and at logistics points.

While you are accurate about not ignoring the whims of Modi administration in this PM's tenure, things could be different in the next one. No administration lasts forever. And no administration in Bangladesh being a smaller neighbor within SAARC (which we mooted by the way) can ignore subcontinental Geo-politics.

I will finally say that signing a 'defense treaty' with India is rather out of the question. My prediction is that Bangladesh will rather choose to turn into Afghanistan if that is even attempted and that is not what policymakers in Lodhi Road even want. No one is trying to turn Bangladesh into 'Ram Rajya' and the price will be too steep.

I'd also say (a little OT) - that India's concern is a 'stable economic market entity' for selling a combination of the likes of 'Amla Hair oil' (FMCG goods) and textile looms (capital goods) and they are happy with that. If Pakistan wants to sell us FMCG, Capital goods as well as do business, we are open for that too. I personally know quite a few Pakistani families who do active trade in Bangladesh in the textile sector.

Overall a good post but I would not be surprised if BD was to have 4 squadrons of 4+ generation fighters in service in time for it's 50th birthday of independence by 2021.

We need to remember that BD economy is currently US 220 billion dollars and growing at 7% a year. The growth rate is likely to pick up to 8-9% over the next 2-3 years as projects like Padma bridge and the 4-laning of major highways is completed one after another.

Sparing 2-3 billion dollars for purchase of fighter aircraft by BAF should be achievable in the next 5 years.
 
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4-laning of major highways is completed one after another

Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Chittagong are already 4-lane all the way through. The highway from Dhaka to Padma Bridge is going to be 4 lane as well.

There are other ones in the pipeline you are saying then? What about Dhaka-Sylhet?
 
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Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Chittagong are already 4-lane all the way through. The highway from Dhaka to Padma Bridge is going to be 4 lane as well.

There are other ones in the pipeline you are saying then? What about Dhaka-Sylhet?
And what about Gabtoli - Aricha road? Any news about making it 4 - lane?
 
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Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Chittagong are already 4-lane all the way through. The highway from Dhaka to Padma Bridge is going to be 4 lane as well.

There are other ones in the pipeline you are saying then? What about Dhaka-Sylhet?

Dhaka-Sylhet 4 lane highway is planned to get started in 2017 with completion due for 2019. The funding may come from ADB.

Below is the project plan for upgrading BD road network:

http://www.rthd.gov.bd/assets/docs/Development Forum Booklet_2015.pdf
 
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F-16 is cheaper in life cycle cost and maintenance while Mig-29 is expensive. Mig-29 have two engines because when it was made USSR didn't had enough powerful engine to power F-16 class / size jet that is why Mig-29 had 2 engines.

You can compare both early F-16 and Mig-29 specifications.
Nope. Wrong. The reason why it actually was build with two engine or so Russians relied upon is because in case of 1 engine failure. The plane can still remain on air. Maintenance and overhaul of f-16 are more when compared with a mig. But migs have to be more often maintained than the f-16 because of its twin engines.
 
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Nope. Wrong. The reason why it actually was build with two engine or so Russians relied upon is because in case of 1 engine failure. The plane can still remain on air. Maintenance and overhaul of f-16 are more when compared with a mig. But migs have to be more often maintained than the f-16 because of its twin engines.

Plus MiG-29 looks sexier...
Mig_29_firing_AA-10.JPG


images (30).jpg
 
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Nope. Wrong. The reason why it actually was build with two engine or so Russians relied upon is because in case of 1 engine failure. The plane can still remain on air. Maintenance and overhaul of f-16 are more when compared with a mig. But migs have to be more often maintained than the f-16 because of its twin engines.

Kindly google it.

and F-16 s have much longer airframe and engine life compared to Mig-29 that is on of many reasons why its cheaper to maintain and operate.

@gambit please share you views.
 
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Kindly google it.

and F-16 s have much longer airframe and engine life compared to Mig-29 that is on of many reasons why its cheaper to maintain and operate.

@gambit please share you views.

Yeah,but we are NOT going for american birds...We have plans to purchase 3-5 ( 48-80 units ) squadrons of Su-30mkk and MiG-35 by 2020...and purchase 10 squadrons ( 160 units ) of 4.5+ Generation by 2030 in order to achieve the targets of The Forces Goal 2030

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forces_Goal_2030#Air_Force
It says :
"Bangladesh Air Force has an ambitious plan of acquiring ten squadrons of 4++ generations fighters by 2030. These ten squadrons will consist of four multirole and six air superiority squadrons. BAF is planning to have at least four squadrons of 4++ generation fighters by 2021. The Mig-35 and Su-30 are the frontrunners among other aircraft being evaluated by Air Force officials."
It also says :
"BAC ( Bongobondhu Aeronautical Center ) is working on building indigenous surveillance UAVs by 2017."
 
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Yeah,but we are NOT going for american birds...We have plans to purchase 3-5 ( 48-80 units ) squadrons of Su-30mkk and MiG-35 by 2020...and purchase 10 squadrons ( 160 units ) of 4.5+ Generation by 2030 in order to achieve the targets of The Forces Goal 2030


BD will not buy 4.5 generation fighters next decade.
It will go for 5th generation planes as many countries like China, Turkey and Korea will have these
planes available for sale.
 
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BD will not buy 4.5 generation fighters next decade.
It will go for 5th generation planes as many countries like China, Turkey and Korea will have these
planes available for sale.

Yeah,and your grandpa will pay for them...

We don't have more than 10 proper 4th generation aircraft...

Even though we might go for a small squadron ( probably 8 units ) of Shenyang J-31...




BTW,STOP DREAMING AND GET BACK TO WORK!
images (31).jpg
 
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Yeah,and your grandpa will pay for them...

We don't have more than 10 proper 4th generation aircraft...

Even though we might go for a small squadron ( probably 8 units ) of Shenyang J-31...




BTW,STOP DREAMING AND GET BACK TO WORK!
View attachment 316520

How mathematically capable are you?

BD's ever growing economy means that sizeable numbers of fifth generation can be procured next decade and
maintained over the following decades.

Unless you can mathematically argue this, don't bother replying.
 
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How mathematically capable are you?

BD's ever growing economy means that sizeable numbers of fifth generation can be procured next decade and
maintained over the following decades.

Unless you can mathematically argue this, don't bother replying.
And who is going to sell BD 5th gen fighters?
 
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How mathematically capable are you?

BD's ever growing economy means that sizeable numbers of fifth generation can be procured next decade and
maintained over the following decades.

Unless you can mathematically argue this, don't bother replying.

@Loki @BDforever @Mohammed Khaled @Bilal9 @masud Make him understand,guys..

And who is going to sell BD 5th gen fighters?

Probably China or Russia...but other countries will be against this if we buy them in numbers...
 
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@Loki @BDforever @Mohammed Khaled @Bilal9 @masud Make him understand,guys..



Probably China or Russia...but other countries will be against this if we buy them in numbers...
Russia isn't going to sell it to us because the same aircraft will be used by the Indians...and a change in government will mean the technology might end up in Paksitan's hands....China isn't gonna sell it to us because it will end up in India's hands...unless you can find a seller who has no stake in our regional politics we aren't getting them.
 
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Yeah,but we are NOT going for american birds...We have plans to purchase 3-5 ( 48-80 units ) squadrons of Su-30mkk and MiG-35 by 2020...and purchase 10 squadrons ( 160 units ) of 4.5+ Generation by 2030 in order to achieve the targets of The Forces Goal 2030

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forces_Goal_2030#Air_Force
It says :
"Bangladesh Air Force has an ambitious plan of acquiring ten squadrons of 4++ generations fighters by 2030. These ten squadrons will consist of four multirole and six air superiority squadrons. BAF is planning to have at least four squadrons of 4++ generation fighters by 2021. The Mig-35 and Su-30 are the frontrunners among other aircraft being evaluated by Air Force officials."
It also says :
"BAC ( Bongobondhu Aeronautical Center ) is working on building indigenous surveillance UAVs by 2017."

Why BD is ignoring 5th gen option till 2030? If they go for used MLUed F-16s (with AESA radar + new IRST if they want 4++gen fighter) will allow savings for upcoming 5th gen plane.
 
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