Bangladesh wants to buy combat fighters, Apache helicopters, missile systems from US
US officials in Dhaka say work in progress to ink two agreements to make the purchase happen
Bangladesh has proposed to the United States to purchase advanced military equipment including multi-role combat fighters, Apache attack helicopters and surface-to-air missile systems, according to US government officials.
Both countries are currently negotiating two agreements that are required by the US law for the purchase to go ahead that will expand the military cooperation between the countries, said the two officials, preferring anonymity, while talking to a select group of reporters at the US Embassy in Dhaka yesterday.
However, when contacted by Dhaka Tribune, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque declined to comment on the matter.
The foundational agreements are Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). Both are bilateral in nature.
ACSA refers to an agreement between the US coalition partners that allow US forces to exchange most common types of support, including food, fuel, transportation, ammunition, and equipment. The agreement does not, in any way, commit a country to any military action.
GSOMIA is a legally binding deal that will ensure that the US advanced equipment and its knowhow will be protected from others.
The officials, however, did not say how much it would cost Bangladesh to make the proposed purchase.
They said it was not possible to talk about the prices as long discussions regarding the agreements were pending.
The initial request from Bangladesh for more advanced equipment include attack helicopters, multi-role combat fighters aircraft, surface-to-air missile system and few other things that were made back in 2018, said one of the officials.
For instance, the official said that they offered Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) two types of attack helicopters and BAF opted for the AH-64 Apache helicopters. “Now, the air force is waiting for the approval of the civilian leadership.”
“We are supportive of it [Bangladesh’s proposal],” said the other official, expressing optimism to ink the deals soon to pave the way for the purchases.
But neither of the officials elaborated on the types of other advanced equipment Bangladesh wants to buy from the US.
Since these are high-end equipment from the US defence industry, the conclusion of the agreements was required to transfer the machinery, they said, and added that there were certain non-advanced equipments that can be purchased without such agreements.
All purchased advanced equipment from the US will come with a number of facilities that include servicing, maintenance, training and supply of spare parts.
One of the officials said that Bangladesh military has now come to a point to feel that it can now have advanced US equipment, and Washington is positive about it as cooperation between the militaries of two countries has been on the rise.
“Bangladesh has known about these agreements for quite some time,” the official said, but declined to comment on the status of the negotiations regarding the two agreements.
Both officials also noted that Bangladesh military has been using the US equipment sensibly, leading Washington to consider selling advanced equipment — which will help Dhaka achieve Forces Goal 2030, a long-term modernization program for Bangladesh’s armed forces.
About the timeframe to conclude the agreements, one official said that it takes one year to sign an ACSA while it takes as long as four years to ink a GSOMIA.
To a question on possible objection from China, the main supplier of arms to Bangladesh military, about the proposed purchases from the US, the official said that it was for Bangladesh to decide from where it would buy the arms.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...KKuJvKe8uPdPGYTDH5ne_FS-cKzc843mh-7E8iWdmSh2A
Wait hold on. F16 s to Bangladesh ?
Why? What does Bangladesh have to offer to the US that is worth F16s. Americans don't give f16s for no reason even if you have the money to pay for them.
Bangladesh, US in talks to sign two defence deals
The United States is ready to support Bangladesh Military Forces Goal 2030 as it seeks to modernise its military equipment.
For that, Bangladesh will need to sign two “foundational” defence deals - General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA).
Both governments and military forces are in talks now to conclude those deals, an official of the US administration with knowledge of that issue told
bdnews24.com. The official is not authorised to talk to media about the matter.
A senior official at the Bangladesh foreign ministry also confirmed that talks have commenced to conclude those deals “necessary to buy modern equipment from the United States”.
The US-Bangladesh defence relationship is important to Washington, as evidenced by its continued support for US-Bangla military exercises hosted by Bangladesh.
Those include Pacific Angel (Summer 2019), Disaster Response Exercise and Exchange (DREE) (Oct 2019), Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) (Nov 19), COPE South (Feb 20), and Tiger Lightning (Mar 20).
Over the last year, both sides conducted multiple Joint Combined Exchanged Training (JCETs) events and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges focused on counter-terrorism issues.
Washington also provided $3.3 million to send 233 members of the Bangladesh military to attend military professionalisation courses in the US and the wider Indo-Pacific region over the last year.
The US also provided $5.3 million to cover the total cost of procurement and delivery of five 38-feet metal shark boats to support the maritime security objectives of the Bangladesh Navy.
The Bangladesh government introduced “Forces Goal 2030” in 2009 with an eye on massive expansion and modernisation of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force.
It is aimed at building a three-dimensional force capable of conducting multi-platform warfare. The Forces Goal 2030 was later revised in 2017. It was the first plan to modernise the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
Under that plan, Bangladesh has bought different types of upgraded equipment including helicopters, unmanned aircraft, and anti-aircraft missiles, mostly from China.
“Everybody in the world knows we can provide the best quality modern equipment,” the US official said. “We greatly value the contribution of Bangladesh military officers who attend our military courses. We seek to support Bangladesh peacekeepers serving on UN missions.”
The official said they are currently working with the government of Bangladesh to conclude those foundational defence agreements (GSOMIA and ACSA), which are essential “to enabling a closer defence relationship, expanding opportunities for defense trade, information sharing, and military-to-military cooperation between our two countries”.
The official explained both the deals which are “nothing related to any strategies” or “containing China” as perceived by many.
GSOMIA
The GSOMIA is a foundational government-to-government bilateral agreement that will permit greater collaboration and sharing of classified military information in the form of intelligence and classified information US defence equipment.
GSOMIA is a reciprocal, legally-binding agreement that ensures governments understand and commit to protect classified military information at an equivalent level of security.
“It does not obligate or commit governments to share classified information or material, it only ensures equivalent protection of the information if shared,” the official said.
Washington has GSOMIA agreements with 76 partners across the globe, including several countries in South Asia.
GSOMIA serves to strengthen cooperation to advance shared interests of trusted partners. As the US-Bangladesh relationship continues to grow, GSOMIA is essential to enabling the cooperation we both seek.
“For Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or GSOMIA, our security authorities would work closely with your security authorities to develop a security plan and standard operating procedures to implement required security measures.”
ACSA
The purpose of the ACSA is to allow the US and partner nation forces to procure and pay for common types of logistical support, supplies, and services in a way that simplifies cooperation.
“ACSA agreements do not in any way commit a partner nation to military action nor do they authorise the stationing of ships, aircraft, or military personnel in foreign countries.”
“They only serve to simplify the procurement and payment of logistic support, supplies, and services between partner forces,” said the official.
The United States has an ACSA agreement with over 100 countries, including India and Sri Lanka.
As a mutual logistics support agreement, for example, an ACSA could facilitate the transfer of fuel from the Bangladesh military to visiting US naval ships participating in the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.
“It could also improve the United States’ ability to respond to any potential humanitarian or natural disasters involving Bangladesh and facilitate the transfer of fuel from the US military to Bangladesh naval ships operating outside of their normal areas; thereby eliminating the need to contract with commercial vendors,” the official said to cite an example.
https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/201...fonMBkUEZ_VHFpnQKDDO5VAKw1gtKBd1jAsDtYwfWcadc
we have to do as they says .............
