fatman17
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A very interesting article published in the April edition of AFM magazine on the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF).
Battlin For Bangladesh
Cannot print the full article but here are some highlights:
Bangladesh has shown remarkable resolve and resilience since gaining independence 37 years ago. In doing so it has built a strong and professional military, used more often for nation building than for conflict....
Like many former British colonies, the BAF is based on the RAF ranking system. Unlike Pakistan, it has kept its traditional RAF rank lapels....
Fighter Force:
With the huge responsibility of defending its airspace, BAF has built up a strong fighter force.....
China has been a regular source for fighter aircraft since the late 1970s, when the BAF acquired several Shenyang FT-5s (two-seat MiG-17 trainers) and FT-6s (two-seat MiG-19s).....During the 1980s, Pakistan donated around 20 Shenyang F-6s.....
In the late 1980s, 16 A-5III were delivered to 21 Squadron at Kurmitola to fulfill the FGA/CAS role.....
Kurmitola AB, inside Dhaka's sprawling military cantonment, is the BAFs showcase facility, where the majority of its fighters are based.....
Around 1990, the multi-role F-7MB, equipped with PL-7 A2A and a srsenal of rockets and bombs was the most modern fighter serving the BAF.....
In 1999, the BAF acquired 6 single-seat MiG-29 Fulcrum-As and 2 Fulcrum-Bs from Russia for a reputed USD$ 115 Million. The MiG-29s are equipped with the NO19M Slot Back air interdiction radar, an IRST sensor, and a HMS system that interfaces with the R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) and R-73 (AA-11 Archer) A2A missiles. The MiG-29s also have a TAS, CAS and Recce roles and work regularly with the Army and Navy.....
The Govt. opted to purchase 12 F-7BGs and 4 FT-7BGs (B donating Bangladesh) for the BAF in 2005.....
The F-7BG is equipped with a chinese SY-80 radar, copied from Italy's FIAR Grifo to provide the aircraft with its main sensor and is highly rated for its versatility.....
BAF INVENTORY:
Aero L-39ZA.....mid 80s.....advanced jet training
Antonov AN-32.....1989.....med range transport
Bell 206L Long Ranger.....mid 70s.....helicopter flying training.
Bell 212.....1976-77.....light to med lift transport
Cessna T-37B.....1995.....basic flying training/multi-engine
Chengdu FT-7MB/F-7MB.....1990.....air defence/ground attack
Chengdu FT-7BG/F-7BG.....2006.....air defence/ground attack
Lockheed C-130B.....2001.....long range transport
MiG-29.....1999....air defence/ground attack/recce
Mi-17Hip.....1995-2007.....med lift transport
Nanchang A-5III.....late 80s.....ground attack/close air support
Nanchang PT-6.....1979.....primary flying training
Shenyang FT-6.....late 80s.....A-5 trainer
BAF ORDER OF BATTLE:
1 Squadron.....Mi-17/Mi-17I/Bell 212.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
3 Squadron.....An-32.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
5 Squadron.....F-7BG/FT-7BG.....BAF Base Kurmitola, Bashar
8 Squadron.....MiG-29B/UB.....BAF Base Kurmitola, Bashar
9 Squadron.....Bell 212.....BAF Base Tejgoan, Basher
21 Squadron.....A-5III/FT-6.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
25 Squadron.....L-39ZA Albatross.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
31 Squadron.....Mi-17/Mi-17I.....BAF Base Tejgoan, Basher
35 Squadron.....F-7MB/FT-7MB.....BAF Base Kurmitola, Bashar
101 Special
Flying Wing.....Mi-17IV/C-130B.....BAF Base Tejgoan, Basher
Flying Training
Wing........................................BAF Academy. Mati ur Rehman
...................11 Squadron...........FT-6
...................15 Squadron...........T-37B
...................18 Squadron...........Bell 206L Long Ranger
The BAF signed a contract with PAC, Kamra on March 19, 2006 that allows procurement, repair and overhaul of spare parts for their fleet of F-7, A-5III and FT-6s.....
Battlin For Bangladesh
Cannot print the full article but here are some highlights:
Bangladesh has shown remarkable resolve and resilience since gaining independence 37 years ago. In doing so it has built a strong and professional military, used more often for nation building than for conflict....
Like many former British colonies, the BAF is based on the RAF ranking system. Unlike Pakistan, it has kept its traditional RAF rank lapels....
Fighter Force:
With the huge responsibility of defending its airspace, BAF has built up a strong fighter force.....
China has been a regular source for fighter aircraft since the late 1970s, when the BAF acquired several Shenyang FT-5s (two-seat MiG-17 trainers) and FT-6s (two-seat MiG-19s).....During the 1980s, Pakistan donated around 20 Shenyang F-6s.....
In the late 1980s, 16 A-5III were delivered to 21 Squadron at Kurmitola to fulfill the FGA/CAS role.....
Kurmitola AB, inside Dhaka's sprawling military cantonment, is the BAFs showcase facility, where the majority of its fighters are based.....
Around 1990, the multi-role F-7MB, equipped with PL-7 A2A and a srsenal of rockets and bombs was the most modern fighter serving the BAF.....
In 1999, the BAF acquired 6 single-seat MiG-29 Fulcrum-As and 2 Fulcrum-Bs from Russia for a reputed USD$ 115 Million. The MiG-29s are equipped with the NO19M Slot Back air interdiction radar, an IRST sensor, and a HMS system that interfaces with the R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) and R-73 (AA-11 Archer) A2A missiles. The MiG-29s also have a TAS, CAS and Recce roles and work regularly with the Army and Navy.....
The Govt. opted to purchase 12 F-7BGs and 4 FT-7BGs (B donating Bangladesh) for the BAF in 2005.....
The F-7BG is equipped with a chinese SY-80 radar, copied from Italy's FIAR Grifo to provide the aircraft with its main sensor and is highly rated for its versatility.....
BAF INVENTORY:
Aero L-39ZA.....mid 80s.....advanced jet training
Antonov AN-32.....1989.....med range transport
Bell 206L Long Ranger.....mid 70s.....helicopter flying training.
Bell 212.....1976-77.....light to med lift transport
Cessna T-37B.....1995.....basic flying training/multi-engine
Chengdu FT-7MB/F-7MB.....1990.....air defence/ground attack
Chengdu FT-7BG/F-7BG.....2006.....air defence/ground attack
Lockheed C-130B.....2001.....long range transport
MiG-29.....1999....air defence/ground attack/recce
Mi-17Hip.....1995-2007.....med lift transport
Nanchang A-5III.....late 80s.....ground attack/close air support
Nanchang PT-6.....1979.....primary flying training
Shenyang FT-6.....late 80s.....A-5 trainer
BAF ORDER OF BATTLE:
1 Squadron.....Mi-17/Mi-17I/Bell 212.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
3 Squadron.....An-32.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
5 Squadron.....F-7BG/FT-7BG.....BAF Base Kurmitola, Bashar
8 Squadron.....MiG-29B/UB.....BAF Base Kurmitola, Bashar
9 Squadron.....Bell 212.....BAF Base Tejgoan, Basher
21 Squadron.....A-5III/FT-6.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
25 Squadron.....L-39ZA Albatross.....BAF Base Zahur ul Haq
31 Squadron.....Mi-17/Mi-17I.....BAF Base Tejgoan, Basher
35 Squadron.....F-7MB/FT-7MB.....BAF Base Kurmitola, Bashar
101 Special
Flying Wing.....Mi-17IV/C-130B.....BAF Base Tejgoan, Basher
Flying Training
Wing........................................BAF Academy. Mati ur Rehman
...................11 Squadron...........FT-6
...................15 Squadron...........T-37B
...................18 Squadron...........Bell 206L Long Ranger
The BAF signed a contract with PAC, Kamra on March 19, 2006 that allows procurement, repair and overhaul of spare parts for their fleet of F-7, A-5III and FT-6s.....
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Is it possible to acquire a squadron and then maintain these birds?I don't think so.
