Forces Goal 2030
Air Force
"Forces Goal 2030 plans to make the Bangladesh Air Force a technologically advanced, well-trained and well-equipped force that can deter any threat. These plans emphasize strengthening air power and air defense capabilities.
The Air Force bought modern
radar systems.
JH-16 and
YLC-2 radar systems were procured from
China in 2013, while JY-11B[15] systems were to be delivered. Gamma DE[16] and Kasta 2E radar systems purchased from Russia under the $1 billion defense deal were to be delivered in 2016. Air Force also ordered
Selex RAT-31DLradar from
Italy in 2016.[17]
In 2011, BAF inducted its first
SAM system, the
FM 90, from China. In 2014, BAF procured one regiment of
LY-80E medium range SAM systems which were to be delivered in 2015.
In 2016 12 new
PT-6 Basic trainers were to be procured to replace the fleet of old PT-6s. BAF procured nine
K-8 Advance jet trainers to complement the fleet of seven
L-39s. In 2015, BAF added three
Let L-410 Turbolets into a newly formed squadron of
Transport trainers. The Air Force also procured 16
Yakovlev Yak-130 Lead-in fighter trainer aircraft from Russia. The first six aircraft were delivered while the other ten were to be delivered in 2016.
The Bangladesh Air Force procured eleven
Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters from Russia from 2010 to 2015 that can be used for both transport and attack roles. BAF also procured two
AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters from
Italy for maritime SAR operations. One
Mil Mi-171E helicopter and five
Mil Mi-171Sh helicopters are on order.
Four
Lockheed C-130 Hercules were to be procured from the
US Air Force, along with 20
Rolls-Royce T56 engines, training and other equipment and services associated with the upgrade.
BAF intended to acquire ten squadrons of 4++ generation fighters by 2030. These ten squadrons were to consist of four multirole and six air superiority squadrons. BAF planned to have at least four squadrons of 4++ generation fighters by 2021.
Two new bases were set up, Bangabandhu air base at
Dhaka and another forward operation base at Cox’s Bazar.
The government set up
Bangabandhu Aeronautical Centre in Dhaka to attain self-sufficiency in building and maintaining aircraft. An overhaul plant for
F-7 aircraft were set up for maintenance of BAFs F-7 fleet. With Russian assistance, another maintenance plant for
Mi-17 helicopters is under development there.
On 25 January 2015, Minister for Public Administration
Syed Ashraful Islam said that the government planned to buy
multirole combat aircraft, medium range
fixed wingtransport aircraft and helicopter trainer".[18]
