Bangladesh Buys Fighter Jets From China for 96.3M

[Nasir]

Bangladesh Buys Fighter Jets From China for $96.3M

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, DHAKA

Bangladesh has signed a $93.6 million deal with China to procure 16 fighter jets for its air force, the country’s acting defense minister said Feb. 23.

Each fighter plane would cost 5.85 million dollars, Hafizuddin Ahmed, the country’s water resources minister who is also acting minister of defense, told the national parliament, according to the state-run BSS news agency.

The minister did not indicate what kind of planes were being bought but Lieutenant-Colonel Nazrul Islam, spokesman for the country’s armed forces, identified them as F-7 fighter jets.

Dhaka and Beijing have strong defense ties and much of Bangladeshi military hardware is purchased from China.

Last April, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao visited Dhaka as part of his maiden South Asian tour when the two countries signed a raft of agreements covering development, trade, economic and defense cooperation.

China is also Bangladesh’s biggest source of imported goods, this year surpassing India for the title for the first time since the country became independent in 1971.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1554999&C=airwar

 

[EagleEyes]

They were before considering to go for Su-30 or some high tech plane, but later switched to F-7 fighters. I dont know why would they go for third class fighters at this time when they are suppose to be replaced soon by more advanced fighters like JF-17. It would be way better off to wait for the JF-17 than get F-7s.

 

[Bull]

They were before considering to go for Su-30 or some high tech plane, but later switched to F-7 fighters. I dont know why would they go for third class fighters at this time when they are suppose to be replaced soon by more advanced fighters like JF-17. It would be way better off to wait for the JF-17 than get F-7s.

They can only but things thats fitting their budget.

 

[sword9]

The J-7 is not BVR capable
J-7 = 2 PL-2 or PL-7 AAM missile
Range of PL-2 = 6.5 km
Range of PL-7 = 14 km

 

[master_fx]

BVR capable?

of course not..... the nose is 2 small to fit with a BVR radar.....

 

[sword9]

of course not..... the nose is 2 small to fit with a BVR radar.....

The PAF F-7 PGs (I think) have the Grifo radar that has a range of 50 km, and can be fitted with PLAAF SD-10 A2A BVR missiles. The IAF Mig-21 Bisons have been made BVR and are armed with R-77 Adders.

 

[MOO]

BVR, but to shoot who?

Its more than enough for them to aquire the more simple F-7 which is still a decent plane for air to ground missions. JH-17 is still an option, but it'll take some time for getting the fundings and besides, the JH-17 isnt even in mass production yet so no need to rush im.

 

[sigatoka]

They were before considering to go for Su-30 or some high tech plane, but later switched to F-7 fighters. I dont know why would they go for third class fighters at this time when they are suppose to be replaced soon by more advanced fighters like JF-17. It would be way better off to wait for the JF-17 than get F-7s.

The decision by a nation depends on the relative price of labour to capital in a nation. In Bangladesh the price of labour is low relative to capital, therefore they will spend relatively more on labour (pilots) than kapital (planes).

The fact countries have different force structures does depend on different roles, but much more importantly the different opportunities that are available to different nations.

 

[Kaiser]

I though bd was gonna go for su-30? What went wrong?

 

[sword9]

I though bd was gonna go for su-30? What went wrong?

Bangladesh just cannot afford the Su-30., they could'nt even afford the MiG-29s purchased some time back.
Read below a BD govt report on the purchase of the 8 Mig-29s and the problems that they are facing.
http://www.pmo.gov.bd/wpceng/mig29.htm

 

[Kaiser]

Bangladesh just cannot afford the Su-30., they could'nt even afford the MiG-29s purchased some time back.
Read below a BD govt report on the purchase of the 8 Mig-29s and the problems that they are facing.
[URL="http://www.pmo.gov.bd/wpceng/mig29.htm"]http://www.pmo.gov.bd/wpceng/mig29.htm[/URL]

Thats exactly what I said in my post that go deleted. At best there poor asses could buy 20 thunders

 

[SMC]

I just wonder what their military budget is. Is it even $1 billion USD?

 

[Kaiser]

I just wonder what their military budget is. Is it even $1 billion USD?

There bugdet is around 800 million

 

[sword9]

I just wonder what their military budget is. Is it even $1 billion USD?

According to IPCS it was $632 million in 2000, and the proposed increase in 2005-06 would take the defence budget close to around $650-700 million.
http://www.ipcs.org/Military_militaryBalance2.jsp?database=1002&country2=Bangladesh

 

[Zeeshan S.]

The best planning for the Bangladesh air force would be to get hands on FC-1 fighter. It will get it cheap from China, and will have capability they need!

If they want the western standard fighter then they can go with the modified JF-17 with an AESA radar which will really boost their capability.