Bangladesh Air Force

[UKBengali]

Is my English that bad?

Gripen is by far the best all-round option (reliability, life time cost, TOT possibility, NATO compatibility,, etc..). BAF should build its backbone with a single engine fighter first and worry about one/half squadron of fancy high performance jets later as one single squadron will make little difference. But then again this is BAF we are talking about.

We can thank @Avicenna who first came up with this plane as ideal for BAF taking into account cost, capability and geopolitics.

2 squadrons(32) of Gripens with 2-3 Global Eye AWACs and BAF would have a small but very potent airforce way better than MAF and gives India something to think about.

 

[Michael Corleone]

I propose that BAF prioritise Gripens with MRO and assembly facilities as the mainstay of the fleet.
If the Americans try to stiffle GE F404 engine supply for the Gripens, we should offer to also buy used Super Hornets (and forget Eurofighters and any other twin engine fighters) which use the same engine. The Super Hornets would bolster our maritime capabilities many folds.

Bro like that we have to buy every model to keep everyone happy

Guys fodder for thought
Mig 29s have a service life of 2500 hours, let’s assume 4000 extra with extensive modifications even then, with stock planes you’re only flying about 6.94 hours a month
If f18 super hornet has a service life of 10k hours, that means in a service life of 30 years the get flies 20hrs every month.
Not a bad deal at all for a small Air Force
Gripen has 8000 hours, Sweden plans to operate for 50 years... divide 8000/50 and divide the result with 12 and you get your per month flight hours, roughly 13 hours

 

[Destranator]

Bro like that we have to buy every model to keep everyone happy

Guys fodder for thought
Mig 29s have a service life of 2500 hours, let’s assume 4000 extra with extensive modifications even then, with stock planes you’re only flying about 6.94 hours a month
If f18 super hornet has a service life of 10k hours, that means in a service life of 30 years the get flies 20hrs every month.
Not a bad deal at all for a small Air Force

There is no equivalent to the US.
Besides, we have need for maritime strike aircraft. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

I would not mind if BAF dumps the MiGs entirely provided we get in some fillers quickly. Used Gripens (as @UKBengali suggested earlier elsewhere) and Super Hornets would help.

 

[Michael Corleone]

There is no equivalent to the US.
Besides, we have need for maritime strike aircraft. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

Yeah but already obsolete platform isn’t a good idea when you intend to keep them for long time. Best bet is to buy reconditioned
Our only real options
Gripen, EFT
Possible inclusion if we invest heavily in American camp
F35
If we invest and willing to wait then
Tempest, TFX, KFX

 

[Destranator]

Yeah but already obsolete platform isn’t a good idea when you intend to keep them for long time. Best bet is to buy reconditioned
Our only real options
Gripen, EFT
Possible inclusion if we invest heavily in American camp
F35
If we invest and willing to wait then
Tempest, TFX, KFX

Super Hornet is obsolete?

Let's not discuss Fifth gen just yet. It is BAF...lol.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Super Hornet is obsolete?

Kind of is... like f16 block 70+
They’re good for now but who’s to guarantee they’re good for more than 10+ years
Already lacks in kinematic performance, the only saving grace is avionics and sensors and now that f35 is operational there dev would stop

Used Gripens (as @UKBengali suggested earlier elsewhere) and Super Hornets would hel

Swedes don’t want to sell used

 

[Avicenna]

Again off topic but this time related to Canada's fighter program: This time Super Hornet, Gripen and F-35.

A well done video.

 

[Destranator]

Kind of is... like f16 block 70+
They’re good for now but who’s to guarantee they’re good for more than 10+ years
Already lacks in kinematic performance, the only saving grace is avionics and sensors and now that f35 is operational there dev would stop

Swedes don’t want to sell used

Kind of is... like f16 block 70+
They’re good for now but who’s to guarantee they’re good for more than 10+ years
Already lacks in kinematic performance, the only saving grace is avionics and sensors and now that f35 is operational there dev would stop

Swedes don’t want to sell used

Good enough to bomb bharat mata back to stone age as they suck at network centric warfare (Abhinandan debacle). I agree however that EFT + Gripen is a better combo overall.
F35 is not value for money at all.
It will take another 20 years before fifth gen fighters become mainstream across the world. Even bharat mata thanks to its red tape behemoth bureaucracy is not getting fifth gen fighter before 2035 despite having funds. They have not fully figured out MMRCAs yet.

Regarding used Gripens, as @UKBengali proposed, BAF should actively pursue South Africa's fleet that they are stuggling to maintain due to severe fund constraints (much worse than BAF's). Most of the fleet is grounded at any given time.

 

[Bilal9]

Good enough to bomb bharat mata back to stone age as they suck at network centric warfare (Abhinandan debacle). I agree however that EFT + Gripen is a better combo overall.
F35 is not value for money at all.
It will take another 20 years before fifth gen fighters become mainstream across the world. Even bharat mata thanks to its red tape behemoth bureaucracy is not getting fifth gen fighter before 2035 despite having funds. They have not fully figured out MMRCAs yet.

Regarding used Gripens, as @UKBengali proposed, BAF should actively pursue South Africa's fleet that they are stuggling to maintain due to severe fund constraints (much worse than BAF's). Most of the fleet is grounded at any given time.

Guys before we bomb Bharat Mata back to stone age (Tall order by any measure and hopefully limited to non-civilian, strategic and military installations), we should find ways to lessen their strangle hold of influence on our AF. What I hear everyday from good sources is not encouraging. How did they insert agents and fifth columnists to hobble our AF at this level? First lets figure that out.

Of course we need a non-goof-off AF chief with some spine and the right pull at high levels too.

 

[Destranator]

Good enough to bomb bharat mata back to stone age. I agree however that EFT + Gripen is a better combo overall.
F35 is not value for money at all.
It will take another 20 years before fifth gen fighters become mainstream across the world. Even bharat mata with its red tep behemoth bureaucracy is not getting fifth gen fighter before 2035. They have not fully figured out MMRCAs yet.

Guys before we bomb Bharat Mata back to stone age (Tall order by any measure and hopefully limited to non-civilian, strategic and military installations), we should find ways to lessen their strangle hold of influence on our AF. What I hear everyday from good sources is not encouraging. How did they insert agents and fifth columnists to hobble our AF at this level? First lets figure that out.

Of course we need a non-goof-off AF chief with some spine and the right pull at high levels too.

Well, the "bomb back to stone age" remark was tongue in cheek to add emphasis on the need for and advantage of having platforms that are interconnected which can overpower enemy assets that are stronger on paper. Network connected Super Hornets and Gripens can adequately counter Indian Eastern Air and Naval Commands.

Regarding BAF being spineless, let us not buy into Indian/Pakistani style narrative of blaming "infiltration" by foreign countries for everything thst is going wrong. I am sure foreign agencies have some level access to Bangladeshi military but they can never have enough access to gain "stranglehold" as otherwise you would be seeing bloodshed every now and then. Let us focus on our fixing our own deficiencies.

BAF has been a spineless organisation since Zia sent airmen en masse to Forces Gaol 1977.

BAF needs administrators installed from BA and BN to revamp its organisational culture; this will weed out most of the inefficiencies.

 

[UKBengali]

Good enough to bomb bharat mata back to stone age as they suck at network centric warfare (Abhinandan debacle). I agree however that EFT + Gripen is a better combo overall.
F35 is not value for money at all.
It will take another 20 years before fifth gen fighters become mainstream across the world. Even bharat mata thanks to its red tape behemoth bureaucracy is not getting fifth gen fighter before 2035 despite having funds. They have not fully figured out MMRCAs yet.

Regarding used Gripens, as @UKBengali proposed, BAF should actively pursue South Africa's fleet that they are stuggling to maintain due to severe fund constraints (much worse than BAF's). Most of the fleet is grounded at any given time.

Just back in September this year, Sweden wanted to sell 12 Gripen C/Ds to Croatia. They want to dump some of their older Gripen Cs in favour of the new Gripen Es in production.

If BD really went for it, it could easily get willing sellers for 2 squadrons(32) of 2nd hand Gripen Cs, then get Sweden to upgrade them with AESA radar and new electronics and also get a good number of Meteor BVRAAMS.

 

[Destranator]

Just back in September this year, Sweden wanted to sell 12 Gripen C/Ds to Croatia. They want to dump some of their older Gripen Cs in favour of the new Gripen Es in production.

If BD really went for it, it could easily get willing sellers for 2 squadrons(32) of 2nd hand Gripen Cs, then get Sweden to upgrade them with AESA radar and new electronics and also get a good number of Meteor BVRAAMS.

I am sure if BAF keeps an open channel of dialogue with Saab, they can work something out for BAF. Sweden is aggressively trying to gain foothold in new markets and offering full support package to everyone. Selling to BAF will encourage many other developing countries to pursue Gripens so it is a win win.

Someone needs to take charge to slap BAF muppets around on a daily basis. A Joint Chief of Staff's Office would do wonders.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Good enough to bomb bharat mata back to stone age as they suck at network centric warfare (Abhinandan debacle). I agree however that EFT + Gripen is a better combo overall.
F35 is not value for money at all.
It will take another 20 years before fifth gen fighters become mainstream across the world. Even bharat mata thanks to its red tape behemoth bureaucracy is not getting fifth gen fighter before 2035 despite having funds. They have not fully figured out MMRCAs yet.

Regarding used Gripens, as @UKBengali proposed, BAF should actively pursue South Africa's fleet that they are stuggling to maintain due to severe fund constraints (much worse than BAF's). Most of the fleet is grounded at any given time.

F35 prices came down comparable to eft now

 

[Destranator]

F35 prices came down comparable to eft now

Yes but it is a single engine fighter. It cannot perform the role of a twin engine fighter.

You also have to jump through various hoops to gets spares, ammo and upgrades as F-35 is highly sensitive. Not value for money at all.

Better go with F/A-18 or EFT for maritime strike role. Or just forget twin engine fighters all together and focus on inducting and multiplying Gripen squadrons with local assembly.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Yes but it is a single engine fighter. It cannot perform the role of a twin engine fighter.

You also have to jump through various hoops to gets spares, ammo and upgrades as F-35 is highly sensitive. Not value for money at all.

Better go with F/A-18 or EFT for maritime strike role. Or just forget twin engine fighters all together and focus on inducting and multiplying Gripen squadrons with local assembly.

Question is does Bangladesh really needs a twin engine and if a compromise in quantity for twin engine worth it? I don’t think so tbh