PM and Air Chief to attend Dubai Air Show 2019 in UAE

[The Ronin]

Dhaka, 15 November: – Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, BBP, OSP, ndu, psc left Dhaka for United Arab Emirate on Friday (15-11-2019) on a four day official visit at the invitation of the Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense, United Arab Emirates along with his spouse and two entourages.

During visit, Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force will participate in Dubai International Air Force Commanders Conderence and Dubai Air Show 2019. The main objective of Dubai International Air Force Commanders Conference is “Building a more Agile and Adaptive Fighting Force : Balancing the Hi & Low-Tech Solution”.

It is expected that this visit of Chief of Air Staff will help accelerating the process of inducting modern arms, ammunitions and technology in BAF. This visit will also play an important role for strengthening the existing relationship between Air Forces of Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates.

https://www.ispr.gov.bd/en/air-chief-departs-for-united-arab-emirates/

PM flies to Dubai tomorrow to join Air Show-2019

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka for Dubai tomorrow on a four-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend Dubai Air Show-2019 and other programmes.

The premier will visit the Gulf nation at the invitation of its ruler Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed al Maktoum.

An Emirates flight carrying the prime minister and her entourage members will take off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka for Dubai at 6:40pm tomorrow.

The flight is scheduled to reach Dubai International Airport at 10:10 pm (local time) where Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Mohammad Imran will receive the premier.

After the reception at the airport, a ceremonial motorcade will escort the premier to Shangri-La Hotel in Abu Dhabi, where she will be staying during her visit to the UAE.


On November 17, Sheikh Hasina will attend the opening ceremony of the Dubai Air Show -2019, one of the largest and most successful air shows in the world and the biggest aerospace event in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

As many as 87,000 participants and 1,300 exhibitors from all over the world are expected to gather at Dubai World Central – Dubai’s airport of the future.

The biennial air show will once again take over the skies of Dubai on November 17 – 21, and is expected to surpass the feats of Dubai Airshow 2017, which concluded with an order book worth more than $113.8 billion and welcomed 79,380 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors from 63 countries.

Concluding the four-day visit to the UAE, the premier will return home on November 19.

“During the visit of the honorable prime minister, three instruments — two bilateral cooperation documents and a protocol — are expected to be signed between Bangladesh and the UAE,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told a news briefing on Thursday.

The three instruments are bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and Emirates Development Authority, between Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) and Emirates Economic Zone Authority and protocol on allotment of land plot for Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

The foreign minister said the prime minister will inaugurate the Election Commission’s programme to start registering Bangladeshis working in the UAE on the voter list and distributing smart NID cards among them on November 18 at the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Apart from the ruler of Dubai, Momen said, Sheikh Hasina will also hold meetings with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and UAE’s Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation Sheikh Fatima Bint Mubarak.

During the visit, the prime minister is also expected to meet big UAE investor groups and businesspeople, Momen said.

“It is expected that the visit will have a positive impact on UAE investment in different sectors of Bangladesh and will help boost cooperation between the investment authorities,” he added.

https://www.thedailystar.net/country/news/pm-flies-dubai-tomorrow-join-air-show-2019-1827532

PM to attend Dubai Air Show 2019 in UAE Saturday

She is expected to sign 3 bilateral cooperation documents, FM Abdul Momen said

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka on Saturday to attend the Dubai Air Show 2019, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Sheikh Hasina will attend the air show on Sunday at the invitation of Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

An Emirates flight carrying the Prime Minister and her entourage is scheduled to leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:40pm and will land at Dubai International Airport at 10:10pm (local time), reports UNB.

Bangladesh Ambassador to UAE Muhammad Imran will receive the prime minister at the airport.

During her visit, the PM will stay at Shangri-La Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

On Sunday, she will join the opening ceremony of the Dubai Air Show 2019 at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (also known as Dubai World Central) at 10am and will enjoy the display there at 2pm (local time).

On the same day, at 7:30pm, the prime minister will attend a dinner to be hosted by the Bangladesh ambassador to the UAE in her honour.

During her four-day official visit to the UAE, three bilateral cooperation documents are expected to be signed, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters on Friday.

The three instruments are: bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Emirates Development Authority, between Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority and Emirates Economic Zone Authority and protocol on Allotment of Land Plot for Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

The prime minister is expected to hold meetings with Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; and Sheikh Fatima Binte Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, UAE.

Sheikh Hasina is also expected to have meeting with giant UAE investor groups and business leaders.

The prime minister is expected to inaugurate National Identity Card (NID) registration program for non-resident Bangladeshis living in the UAE at the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said the Foreign Minister.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister will leave Dubai for Dhaka by an Emirates flight wrapping up her four-day visit to UAE. She will land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11pm on the same day.

Bangladesh Ambassador to UAE Muhammad Imran will see her off at Dubai International Airport.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...0MkznHqhe0O2DJKj1ORZxUt8dy9RnXtEOKgfOB2Gyxyhk

 

[Arthur]

PM & ACM visiting Dubai air show at the same time. I am hoping that a platform will be finalised if not order signed.

Fingers Crossed!

 

[Avicenna]

PM & ACM visiting the Duabai air show at the same time. I am hoping that a platform will be finalised if not order signed.

Fingers Crossed!

 

[The Ronin]

PM & ACM visiting the Duabai air show at the same time. I am hoping that a platform will be finalised if not order signed.

Fingers Crossed!

PM and her military adviser also attended IDEX '19 in February.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...isits-international-defence-exhibition-in-uae

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/201...-international-defence-exhibition-2019-in-uae

What do you think? Will they secure EFT/Gripen deal? Or will they order some F-16 Block 60?

https://theaviationist.com/2019/11/13/airbus-announces-a-new-eurofighter-typhoon-ecr-sead-variant/

The Block 60 was designed for the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF).[14] Based on the F-16C/D Block 50/52, it features improved radar, avionics and conformal fuel tanks. At one time, this version was incorrectly thought to have been designated "F-16U". A major difference from previous blocks is the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-80 Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which gives the airplane the capability to simultaneously track and destroy ground and air threats. The Block 60's General Electric F110-GE-132 engine is a development of the −129 model and is rated at 32,500 lbf (144 kN). The Electronic Warfare system is supposed to be quite advanced and includes the Northrop Grumman Falcon Edge Integrated Electronic Warfare Suite RWR together with the AN/ALQ-165 Self-Protection Jammer. Falcon Edge, which was developed by Northrop Grumman specifically for the Block 60, is capable of showing not only the bearing of any threat but also the range. The Block 60 allows the carriage of all Block 50/52-compatible weaponry as well as AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM). The CFTs provide an additional 450 US gallon (2,045 L) of fuel, allowing increased range or time on station. This has the added benefit of freeing up hardpoints for weapons that otherwise would have been occupied by underwing fuel tanks. The MIL-STD-1553 data bus is replaced by MIL-STD-1773 fiber-optic data bus which offers a 1,000 times increase in data-handling capability. UAE funded the entire $3 billion Block 60 development costs, and in exchange will receive royalties if any of the Block 60 aircraft are sold to other nations. According to press reports quoted by Flight International, this is "the first time the US has sold a better aircraft [F-16] overseas than its own forces fly".[15] Like the F-35, the Block 60 F-16 has a built in FLIR/laser targeting system rather than using a dedicated pod that would occupy a hardpoint, increase drag and RCS.[16]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon_variants

 

[Avicenna]

PM and her military adviser also attended IDEX '19 in February.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...isits-international-defence-exhibition-in-uae

https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/201...-international-defence-exhibition-2019-in-uae

What do you think? Will they secure EFT/Gripen deal? Or will they order some F-16 Block 60?

The Block 60 was designed for the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF).[14] Based on the F-16C/D Block 50/52, it features improved radar, avionics and conformal fuel tanks. At one time, this version was incorrectly thought to have been designated "F-16U". A major difference from previous blocks is the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-80 Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which gives the airplane the capability to simultaneously track and destroy ground and air threats. The Block 60's General Electric F110-GE-132 engine is a development of the −129 model and is rated at 32,500 lbf (144 kN). The Electronic Warfare system is supposed to be quite advanced and includes the Northrop Grumman Falcon Edge Integrated Electronic Warfare Suite RWR together with the AN/ALQ-165 Self-Protection Jammer. Falcon Edge, which was developed by Northrop Grumman specifically for the Block 60, is capable of showing not only the bearing of any threat but also the range. The Block 60 allows the carriage of all Block 50/52-compatible weaponry as well as AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM). The CFTs provide an additional 450 US gallon (2,045 L) of fuel, allowing increased range or time on station. This has the added benefit of freeing up hardpoints for weapons that otherwise would have been occupied by underwing fuel tanks. The MIL-STD-1553 data bus is replaced by MIL-STD-1773 fiber-optic data bus which offers a 1,000 times increase in data-handling capability. UAE funded the entire $3 billion Block 60 development costs, and in exchange will receive royalties if any of the Block 60 aircraft are sold to other nations. According to press reports quoted by Flight International, this is "the first time the US has sold a better aircraft [F-16] overseas than its own forces fly".[15] Like the F-35, the Block 60 F-16 has a built in FLIR/laser targeting system rather than using a dedicated pod that would occupy a hardpoint, increase drag and RCS.[16]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon_variants

My guess is nothing will happen.

If Bangladesh were ever to get F-16s, the most likely scenario would be ex USAF early C block examples upgraded.

If new build then Block 70/72 like Indonesia.

Or Super Hornet, although that would be most expensive.

Used F-18 C/D would likely be too worn out to be useful long term.

I can not imagine Bangladesh buying new Typhoon.

So any orders placed or announcements would be a SHOCK!

As I said, likely they are gonna watch some planes fly overhead and have some biryani with some locals.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Bangladesh only has 8 Mig-29s against 31 Mig-29s of Myanmar?

Can BAF currently take on MAF's JF-17 Thunders or has it shifted the balance of power in favour of Myanmar even more in the Bay of Bengal?

 

[Avicenna]

Bangladesh only has 8 Mig-29s against 31 Mig-29s of Myanmar?

Can BAF currently take on MAF's JF-17 Thunders or has it shifted the balance of power in favour of Myanmar even more in Bay of Bengal?

Give it some time.

BAF will buy something eventually.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Give it some time.

BAF will buy something eventually.

Something like the three-day Kashmir Escalation in February 2019 could happen between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

I am just wondering whether BAF is prepared for such an eventuality or is it totally sleeping?

 

[mb444]

Something like the three-day Kashmir Escalation in February 2019 could happen between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

I am just wondering whether BAF is prepared for such an eventuality or is it totally sleeping?

I would like to think they are doing something.....but if past is any indication i am afraid they are fast asleep....hell BAF slept through a hurricane that they had an weeks advanced notice and managed to lose half the fleet in the 90's that we still have not recovered from. Are we ready for a war...hell no....

The army and navy will do the fighting. I am sure they have even less confidence on BAF than I.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Something like the three-day Kashmir Escalation in February 2019 could happen between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

I am just wondering whether BAF is prepared for such an eventuality or is it totally sleeping?

With Pakistan and India, things didn’t escalate further because both are nuclear powers who have lot to lose. Which keeps the, from going in an all out war. But imo if Burmese Air Force conducts air strikes in bd, bd will see it as declaration of war... if Hasina tries to stop it armed forces then she will meet her fathers fate

I would like to think they are doing something.....but if past is any indication i am afraid they are fast asleep....hell BAF slept through a hurricane that they had an weeks advanced notice and managed to lose half the fleet in the 90's that we still have not recovered from. Are we ready for a war...hell no....

The army and navy will do the fighting. I am sure they have even less confidence on BAF than I.

Losing half a fleet in 90s that we still struggle to recover from is actually a lame excuse by these folks. Those were 2nd gen subsonics, they were bound to go in 10 years time...

 

[Avicenna]

Something like the three-day Kashmir Escalation in February 2019 could happen between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

I am just wondering whether BAF is prepared for such an eventuality or is it totally sleeping?

I agree with you.

I would have to lean BAF is currently completely unprepared.

 

[Philip the Arab]

I have wondered for a while, wouldn't it be possible to use light attack turboprops as Standoff weapon carriers? The B-250 that UAE recently made with Brazilian assistance but the B-250s SOWs only have 25km range, and I think it would need 120km range that is produced in the UAE. If it could drop GPS guided SOWs and gtfo out it would avoid any major opposition from enemy fighters, and SAMs.

IMO it would be pretty useful as a trainer and as a attack aircraft against Myanmar.

 

[bd_4_ever]

Bangladesh only has 8 Mig-29s against 31 Mig-29s of Myanmar?

Can BAF currently take on MAF's JF-17 Thunders or has it shifted the balance of power in favour of Myanmar even more in the Bay of Bengal?

You, see numbers are not everything.

Its true that BAF is a garbage force. Apologies to sensitive BD folks but that's the reality. But 31 Migs wont do jackshit. Here's couple of reasons:

1. The army and air force both boosts a decent anti-aircraft inventory. We have FM-90s, with more on the line to come.
2. We have purchased massive number of radars, latest being Kronos from Italy, which give us complete control, and vision of our aerial zone. Any incoming attack will be spotted without delay and preparation will be taken accordingly.
3. Over the years, we have given a lot of importance to mobilization. Purchased a lot of transport aircraft for our special forces. The reason is to move in troops behind enemy lines quickly in case of an attack to create diversion. BD is a small country. There's no other reason why you would need high mobility.
4. Finally, an aerial attack will quickly lead to a ground battle and Burma will pay for it. Our troops are very good when it comes to dealing with foreign army/mercenaries. Examples can be seen in most UN missions where we go. They have lot of experience in dealing with tough situations against solid and well organized opponents.

And in the Bay of Bengal, its hilarious that you even think there is a power tussle. Our Navy is solid with probably the most competent leadership among the 3 forces. Sorry but there is no comparison with the Burmese navy and that gap will only widen. For more information, read up the Bangladesh Navy sticky thread.

And finally, whatever little BAF has, it still have some aircrafts to hold for sometime. That is more than enough for now. New fighters will come very soon.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

You, see numbers are not everything.

Its true that BAF is a garbage force. Apologies to sensitive BD folks but that's the reality. But 31 Migs wont do jackshit. Here's couple of reasons:

1. The army and air force both boosts a decent anti-aircraft inventory. We have FM-90s, with more on the line to come.
2. We have purchased massive number of radars, latest being Kronos from Italy, which give us complete control, and vision of our aerial zone. Any incoming attack will be spotted without delay and preparation will be taken accordingly.
3. Over the years, we have given a lot of importance to mobilization. Purchased a lot of transport aircraft for our special forces. The reason is to move in troops behind enemy lines quickly in case of an attack to create diversion. BD is a small country. There's no other reason why you would need high mobility.
4. Finally, an aerial attack will quickly lead to a ground battle and Burma will pay for it. Our troops are very good when it comes to dealing with foreign army/mercenaries. Examples can be seen in most UN missions where we go. They have lot of experience in dealing with tough situations against solid and well organized opponents.

And in the Bay of Bengal, its hilarious that you even think there is a power tussle. Our Navy is solid with probably the most competent leadership among the 3 forces. Sorry but there is no comparison with the Burmese navy and that gap will only widen. For more information, read up the Bangladesh Navy sticky thread.

And finally, whatever little BAF has, it still have some aircrafts to hold for sometime. That is more than enough for now. New fighters will come very soon.

I was talking more about matching air-to-air power. For example, if an aerial engagement occurred between the two air forces, what's likely to be the outcome?

I'm really surprised at the very low numbers of fighter aircraft in BAF. I don't know whether it's ignorance or whether Bangladesh has outsourced it's security to other nation(s).

 

[Michael Corleone]

I'm really surprised at the very low numbers of fighter aircraft in BAF. I don't know whether it's ignorance or whether Bangladesh has outsourced it's security to other nation(s).

For the last two decades the excuse as always lack of funding