Bilal9
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BD doesnt have the experience to build and assemble any aircraft before, not to mention bd doesnt have any resources to backing up such complex industries. Ur statement is a wet dream at best
I'd argue (with all due respect) differently.
When Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie founded IPTN (now called Dirgantara, Indonesia's aircraft joint venture with Spain) with Soeharto's blessings as a govt. company in 1976, Indonesia did not manufacture even motorcycles. Yet BJ succeeded in developing Indonesia into an Aircraft manufacturing powerhouse until the late 1990's. The N250 program was shelved and IPTN then fell upon hard times. Indonesia had demand for aircraft for sure - but for some reason, IPTN could not get work - except small time repair contracts and parts manufacture. This despite having quite sophisticated machines of the Cincinnati Milacron variety.
However - these days, such experience gaps can be leap-frogged with relative ease. Look at Pakistan and for a better example, look at Korea on how quickly they developed their aerospace sector. Look at the Korean copy of the Embraer Tucano, the Woongbi, which the Indonesian AF flies. This was developed in 1988.
Before the 1980's Korea could not even make copies of Mitsubishi cars, which they eventually developed into world-beating cars. The Korean govt. was in lock-step with Samsung, Lucky Goldstar (LG) and Hyundai every step of the way. They also founded the equivalent of a Defense research establishment in 1980's, which eventually developed the woongbi Turboprop trainer, a large utility heli and a small F-16 type single-engine fighter jet.
I do agree that you need to start with turboprop trainers first. Bangladesh is not at that stage of development yet where we can bring in value addition by making aircraft. Still too much competition from countries like Korea. If we make local ToT a part of the contract (like Indians have been doing since the 1960's), our aerospace sector will develop. But the ministers are too busy lining their Swiss and S'pore bank accounts to think about that. That is the last thing they think about.
However I will beg to differ if an outsider unfamiliar with local situation says Bangladesh govt. doesn't have the resources. They do.
Our Central bank reserves exceed the total yearly GDP of many African countries.
Bangladesh also has plenty (plenty!) of experienced aerospace engineers it has trained and lost overseas (brain drain), just like Dr. Habibie. Quite a few work at aerospace companies here in the States (some at Boeing).
Will they ever go back home to work in the Bangladesh aerospace sector if one develops? Can that homegrown talent be brought home? Perhaps.
What Bangladesh does not have is,
- Independent long-term developmental vision, political will or a strong 'visionary' who has the will to pull this off funding-wise instead of wasting money without developing homegrown industry.
- The situation internally to use investments efficiently - there is too much meddling by external political elements from other countries causing 'strategic' chaos and loss of momentum. We have a shameful history of foreigners walking into our country calling the shots. We allow this to happen.
The Bangladesh Navy is already doing this with its own Shipyards making up to 650 DWT stealth patrol craft. The day when we will be making stealth frigates is entirely within reach in less than a decade.
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