There a lot of other components that make up a Navy besides frigates & subs, but no one is trying to compare PN vs. BN, it is a fools errand. The two navies face completely different scenarios, have different budgets and mission objectives. You can't compare apples to oranges. However Bangladesh' rate of expansion is (I'd argue) on a higher upswing than PN, at least as of now.
PN faces a perpetually hostile IN to the East and South, Bangladesh doesn't (so far as we know).
Hence PN's stressing local frigate & sub builds and seeking self-sufficiency in
sub-capable nukes and other nukes. There is significant work ongoing for conventional AShM Missiles and Surface to Surface projectiles as well,
http://quwa.org/2016/12/14/pakistan-successfully-tests-babur-version-2-cruise-missile/
Those pioneering efforts in Pakistan have no parallel (yet) within Bangladesh, though I expect that to change (because of recent foreign policy impact). In fact so far Bangladesh Navy has enjoyed a relatively threat-free existence in the BoB neighborhood.
If these sound like nice alibis for Bangladesh Navy being sub-par, it shouldn't. Our Navy has ts share of laxity and ineptitude like any other Navy, including the Navy of our bigger neighbor. Rogue behavior from Myanmar Junta will change its priorities I'm sure.
There is a need for stronger frigate fleets & sub-based deterrents in the BoB patrol area for BN, in addition to other smaller vessel based patrol fleets closer to shore. Eventually all will be indigenous builds. Most of it already is, except Frigates and larger corvettes.
Those numbers are deceptive. Out of the 9, Five
Tariq-class destroyers are ex-
Royal Navy Type 21 frigates (which although heavily refurbished) are long overdue for replacement. Other than the four F22P now operational, Pakistani Navy officials themselves have stated that replacements for the Tariq Class were in the offing, and we have heard either four more F22P builds at KSEW or ToT based MilGem Frigate builds.
For Bangladesh' situation, as
@BDforever stated,
- Current 4 Guided missile Frigates (including BNS BB, which is heavily modernized)
- 6 Indigenous Build Frigates w/ToT (could be at a minimum like the C28A, see below, or as involved as the 054A variant, but definitely with VLS launchers and connected electronic warfare suites and fast data-bus support this time).
- 4 Type 053H3 Frigates (upcoming from next year) - this has been confirmed from reliable BN sources.
- So 8 relatively modern stopgap frigates within 2019 and then 6 more indigenous ones within 2025.
C28A class frigate (heavy corvette) 3000 tons
TYPE 054A “JIANGKAI II” class AIR DEFENSE frigate 4000 tons
The Ming class in Bangladesh is a stopgap measure for sub training purposes, you can't run sub operations with two decade old platforms...two more are either being built or will be transferred....probably Song class and with AIP. In any case, having four subs are more than sufficient deterrent for Bangladesh' enemies.
ADA Class is a large corvette (armed as one), 053H3 are Frigates. Plus local builds of frigates in Bangladesh are more or less certain (I don't want to go into all the myriad reasons why) which will be the equivalent of the ADA class. Judging from buzz in the military forums and personal confirmations from BN personnel all the Bangladeshi members here know.
PN has started its Sub program way ahead of us (two decades) because of deterring IN sub capability and this is evident in their number of subs. We had no such need until now, but as I said, this will change.
You also forgot about Inshore and Mid-shore smaller patrol vessels which are as important (if not more) for BN and PN for EEZ and sea-lane patrols.
While PN is largely dependent on foreign builds for this (small numbers of Azmat/Jalalat/Jurrat classes are exceptions and a
future OPV purchase), Bangladesh' fleet for this class of patrol vessel are far larger and almost entirely locally built. These are vessels from the Durjoy class (650 tons).
down to a half dozen other classes from 150 to 350 tons displacement, which will all be replaced with a unified design called the Padma class (350 tons). Five Padma Class vessels are already commissioned, but 25 will join the naval fleet within 2025, being built in batches of five.
And we haven't even started on the local Coast Guard patrol vessel builds, which include (again) a half-dozen different classes (see below),
FPB CGS Kutubdia Class 235 tons
IPV CGS Shobuj Bangla Class 300 tons
IPV CGS Ruposhi Bangla class 195 tons
with the 1300 ton Italian ex-Minerva class being the BCGS 'Leader class'.
Very comprehensive list Mr. Bilai lover (and largely accurate).
So my last word on this is that BN and PN naval build capabilities are largely complementary. Both our countries should help each other to get ahead in naval builds.
@Penguin bhai for his valuable comments.
