Bangladesh Air force is considering the MiG-29CMT/Lockheed Martin F-16/Su-30/Saab JAS-39 as next fighter:
According to information published in the journal «Jane's Defence Weekly», became aware that Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman (Marshal and Chief of Air Staff, Bangladesh), said at an international conference in London on 2011 that his country intends to buy 16 brand new F-7BGI fighter jets from China. Their preparation is expected in 2012. Details of the contract on purchase of F-7BGI aircraft, remained undisclosed. It is assumed that these will replace the outdated fighter bombers A-5C, now in the service.
Based on statements by the commander of Air Force Staff of Bangladesh, an improved version of F-7 the F-7BGI, created by a Chinese company, known as the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, characterized the best on-board equipment. There is a control stick HOTAS, three indicators (multi-) in the cockpit and one on the windshield. Weapon system includes bombs (guided) capable of induced by GPS. Judging from these descriptions, we can safely conclude that, in a sense, the production of the MiG-21 does not stop now.
It should be noted that the Bangladesh Air Force in 2006, has received 16 fighters of earlier versions grade F-7BG, who produced all the same Chinese company, as well as four combat-capable aircraft grade FT-7BG. A little earlier, from 1989 to 2000, the air force acquired an additional 16 fighters marks F-7MB, and 8 training version FT-7MB. Incidentally, today in the ranks stay single machine (23sht.) and 8 trainers. And all of them are registered for the squadrons of 35 and 5 on the Dhaka-Kurmitola Air Base.
According to Shah Mohammad Ziaur Marshal Rahman, the purchase of aircraft F-7BGI will be for a transitional period, because in the next 13-15 years, the Air Force intends to acquire a new generation of fighters (32). The options being considered is the MiG-29CMT, Lockheed Martin F-16 and Su-30 and the Saab JAS-39. In addition, the Air Force plans to upgrade 8 MiG-29 that were purchased back in 1999, and of course, buy a new trainer for advanced training in order to replace the existing L-39.
