Was the Bangladeshi MIG 29's necessary?

[eastwatch]

I understand your point bro. I agree, you need to defend your country. I just dont think expensive jets are the best way to defend it. My own view is you should have a bigger army, which properly equipped and manned.

You should also have a better navy that can police and defend your waterways.

But, an army without protection from above is a recipe of its destruction by the enemy bombers. It is a simple calculation. Do not you guys find any relationship between a strong airforce and a strong army? The military knows very well about its needs, and they are doing accordingly. They will not follow the novices here making negative comments on those matters of purchasing Migs and others.

Considering the days immediately after 1971 war, BD has come a long way both in its performance in economy and building up of its military. Our goal has been fixed. There is no division of opinions in our political circle about the need of a strong military. Whichever party comes to power will keep on strengthenening our military in the coming years, albeit with Chinese assistance.

The vision is a 3D military, and our navy is getting stronger day by day. An induction of four submarines will make BN the 2nd strongest in the region. Then, again a navy even in our own BoB is not strong without air support. Best is the Navy itself has its own planes. But, it has only a few helis. So, airforce will play a role in a naval warfare.

This is the reason, another airforce base is being built in Cox's Bazaar. Probably the new Mig-29SMTs will be based there. However, I have read somewhere recently that the airforce top brass is in favour of buying a squadron of Sukhoi instead of buying one or two new squadrons of MIg-29SMTs.

 

[fallstuff]

Every country regardless of size and power needs a military for its security. Even Bhutan has its own military. Never did I say: "screw the military!"

We don't need to worry about India anyways.

And if they do decide to invade for some reason, we are already screwed even before their land forces come.

We can fight a guerrilla war at best.

The whole thing about India invading Bangladesh is nothing but hypothetical at best.

But lets be really honest here, we are absolutely no match against the military of India in the context of conventional warfare. Both in terms of quantity and quality. Warmongering against India won't help one bit.

Myanmar has many problems of its own. It is dead inside with a pretty shell on the outside.

Even with a big army, Bangladesh has holes in its security. And even had holes that were overlooked. Why? It is more worthwhile thinking about that rather than expensive jets.

I am going to add a bit more to the discussion. The SA regions has seen a lot of violence. Our neighborhood is pretty rough to say the least. We need weapons such as advanced AAM , anti-tank missiles, tanks, and 4G Jets. We neither have the money nor do we need to match big neighbors arsenal. However, big neighbor has other fish to fry in the hood. Thats why I wrote in a previous post that there are other players ( Pakistan, China) in the theater.

Big neighbor will have the cream of the crops facing West, North and NE. I am by any means not suggesting competing, but a reasonable deterrence. Outsourcing defense is a bad idea.

 

[Zabaniyah]

I am going to add a bit more to the discussion. The SA regions has seen a lot of violence. Our neighborhood is pretty rough to say the least. We need weapons such as advanced AAM , anti-tank missiles, tanks, and 4G Jets. We neither have the money nor do we need to match big neighbors arsenal. However, big neighbor has other fish to fry in the hood. Thats why I wrote in a previous post that there are other players ( Pakistan, China) in the theater.

Big neighbor will have the cream of the crops facing West, North and NE. I am by any means not suggesting competing, but a reasonable deterrence. Outsourcing defense is a bad idea.

We don't share any border with Pakistan

They can't even deter smugglers, pirates and criminals on the Indo-Bangladesh borders. Those guys are often even better equipped than BGB

And we are talking about submarines and 4G jets? Ha! Funny. eidher kea dae kono kazh nhai naki?

We should focus on defense equipment according to national security requirements, not just showing them off and being of no real application.

Investing in MI-24s (example), data link, communications and sensor equipment on those volatile border regions should be prioritized more. The BGB still use single bolt action rifles of WWII era designs. They can use some more equipment.

 

[InFn-0]

The reason why smuggling cannot be stopped at border is not because BGB is under equipped. The main reason is that smugglers are influential enough to stop government from taking steps that would harm their business. And by saying other players are involved, he meant to say if there is a hypothetical war between India and Bangladesh, we can expect help from other countries.

 

[Zabaniyah]

The reason why smuggling cannot be stopped at border is not because BGB is under equipped. The main reason is that smugglers are influential enough to stop government from taking steps that would harm their business. And by saying other players are involved, he meant to say if there is a hypothetical war between India and Bangladesh, we can expect help from other countries.

*sigh* Yes, India invading Bangladesh is hypothetical at best. Why go for something that has a weak hypothesis? Do know how a hypothesis works?

That is my point as far the BGB goes. And of-course, those influential smugglers. Those parasites compromise the national security of both Bangladesh and India.

If India wanted to take over Bangladesh, they could have easily done so back in 1971 when we didn't even have a military! With the way Bangladesh is at the moment, nobody would want to add another 160+ million population to their economy. That would be a burden, especially considering majority of the population are unskilled and poor.

I have already explained the implications for India if it is ever going to invade Bangladesh in my previous posts, they are not good. An invasion of Bangladesh would in fact compromise India's national security. There is also a chance for refugee crisis which none of Bangladesh's neighbors want, let alone Burma.

The bottom line is: India militarily invading Bangladesh is not going to happen! If you take all the possible factors into account, the probability of that happening is very low.

Don't waste money on unnecessary things. Invest in something that actually WORKS as far as national security goes. Not just something that is put up for show or satisfy some douche bag's ego.

Maintaining a good relationship with both India and China are important.

 

[Galaxy]

Good thought Zabanya!!

 

[desioptimist]

Zabanya, we are arguing about defense procurement with threat of war coming from India in medium to long term.
With that being the assumption(by most people here), is the Mig 29 purchage a good decision. I would say no, for the reason I mentioned already.
One should focus on ones strength, and enemy's weakness, not seek parity in everything.
I also can back my argument by recent events in libya, where top of the line fighters cant break a poorly equipped army.

 

[integra]

Investing in MI-24s (example), data link, communications and sensor equipment on those volatile border regions should be prioritized more. The BGB still use single bolt action rifles of WWII era designs. They can use some more equipment.

Well you are one pessimist BD citizen as it seems to me at times. Never mind, its just human nature to be different. Being overly optimistic is as bad. Anyways no, our BDR( I like the old tune) uses Mostly M16A4 and our licensed BD-08(licensed type-81) produced domestically.

The stuff that you mentioned might resemble more with what BSF uses. Few months ago out of curiosity and adventure a group of my friends including me went to see what goes on the border. Now I remember there was this old farmer guy whom I asked

"Why are you working so close, won't they fire from the other side, ?"

what he said was more like

"Nah, even if they do, not to worry, those are so old
that they'd miss the first shot and by the time they
reload I'd have enough time to go back
to my house and eat some mango!" Heh!

Ofcourse he was making fun, I guess.

 

[Zeeshan360]

Good for India, How are they going to allevate poverty? Bangladesh should not be following same direction as our neighbours. We need to learn from their mistakes there is no point in buying hi-tech equipment, most of Indians economy is in swiss banks and who is going to be the person to stop this. There are people whom are starving out there happily living their lives in slums. Tear continously drops when I see these sort of things, I do not wish my fellow Bangladeshis to be in this hardship, Govt. is responsible for those who cannot find food to put on their plates Inshallah our problems with poverty will be solved and gone/dusted we need better programs for education in order to build our workforce into highly patriotic, hardworking people, I'm guessing our people already are what I mentioned but indeed we need to Advance in economy and military our country will not forsaken our economy has much potential, we would have sored above the skies.. fellow patriots we will see a brighter day when we see our country with no poverty, better quality of life. Inshallah we will achieve greatness.

U r not getting it .
India faces a higher risk of attack from Pakistan as well as China while Bangladesh faces none , or at most say India .

When u consider defence spending u should compare it with the percentage of the economy .

India's current spending on defence is 1.8% , lowest in South Asia .
But as our gdp is a trillion dollar our defence spendings look huge .

Hope u get my point .
Swiss banks and all was not needed actually . But government is already trying to procure money from Swiss banks

 

[desioptimist]

Well you are one pessimist BD citizen as it seems to me at times. Never mind, its just human nature to be different. Being overly optimistic is as bad. Anyways no, our BDR( I like the old tune) uses Mostly M16A4 and our licensed BD-08(licensed type-81) produced domestically.

The stuff that you mentioned might resemble more with what BSF uses. Few months ago out of curiosity and adventure a group of my friends including me went to see what goes on the border. Now I remember there was this old farmer guy whom I asked

"Why are you working so close, won't they fire from the other side, ?"

what he said was more like

"Nah, even if they do, not to worry, those are so old
that they'd miss the first shot and by the time they
reload I'd have enough time to go back
to my house and eat some mango!" Heh!

Ofcourse he was making fun, I guess.

I am sure it can be due to poor equipment and bad marksmanship by BSF.
Firing warning shots can be rules out entirely.

 

[InFn-0]

U r not getting it .
India faces a higher risk of attack from Pakistan as well as China while Bangladesh faces none , or at most say India .

When u consider defence spending u should compare it with the percentage of the economy .

India's current spending on defence is 1.8% , lowest in South Asia .
But as our gdp is a trillion dollar our defence spendings look huge .

Hope u get my point .
Swiss banks and all was not needed actually . But government is already trying to procure money from Swiss banks

Bangladesh's defence budget is 1.3% of GDP. That also considering our GDP calculation is based on 1995 base year.

 

[desioptimist]

Bangladesh's defence budget is 1.3% of GDP. That also considering our GDP calculation is based on 1995 base year.

We are not arguing about your defence budget. We are arguing about specific procurement.
India's defence budget is based on our threat perception, and within acceptable limit in this region, but that is not the point of discussion here.

 

[PoKeMon]

Even four submarine along with 4 squadron of F-16 will be enough to give much headache to Indian.. We are not diverting our development resources to army rahter army is under funded which needed to be raised.

Ohhh God!!!!!!!! I might sound arrogant but a small disprin can eradicate such headaches leave alone Indian army.
In which dream you saw India invading Bangladesh or you too are a supporter of "jihad" against kafirs, no matter they pinch you or not.

 

[eastwatch]

We are not arguing about your defence budget. We are arguing about specific procurement.
India's defence budget is based on our threat perception, and within acceptable limit in this region, but that is not the point of discussion here.

As I said earlier we should not be here to poke nose on what weapons our defnse ministry would buy. Only they know what are the good and important weapons. About purchasing of Mig-29s, it seems the decision was far ahead of time.

What India or Burma will do in the future, it is theirs to decide. No one come here and start talking like a Prophet, and say India will not attack us. People should understand that a weakness is an invitation of an attack. As a sovereign nation we have the right to equip ourselves and fight back with whatever weapons we have if attacked.

And Mig-29s are one of the bests defensive weapon in the sky. This being the reason, we are again thinking of buying one or two new sq. of Mig-SMTs. But, the latest news is our military will prefer SU-30s this time.

 

[InFn-0]

We are not arguing about your defence budget. We are arguing about specific procurement.
India's defence budget is based on our threat perception, and within acceptable limit in this region, but that is not the point of discussion here.

I was actually replying to his claim about India's defence budget being the smallest (as % of gdp) in the region. Anyway, since this is not the point of discussion here lets just forget it.