Initiative to buy 16 warplanes for Tk 25,000 crore

[Goenitz]

If I am not wrong, Gripen outsources a lot of it's parts from various countries and the Engine coming from US. While on paper it looks like the cheapest and best option, there is a strategic complication with Gripen procurement. BD has recently communicated openly we will not be signing security pact with US. Clearly we don't want US string attached to anything. Procuring Gripen would allow just that. Otherwise we could have gone for F 16s or F18s for that 3 billion.

So Gripen is definitely not happening for now.

I think SAAB has permission to export the aircraft and doesn't need US permission. If you can't find a source i, will search later.

 

[Avicenna]

If I am not wrong, Gripen outsources a lot of it's parts from various countries and the Engine coming from US. While on paper it looks like the cheapest and best option, there is a strategic complication with Gripen procurement. BD has recently communicated openly we will not be signing security pact with US. Clearly we don't want US string attached to anything. Procuring Gripen would allow just that. Otherwise we could have gone for F 16s or F18s for that 3 billion.

So Gripen is definitely not happening for now.

This is an excellent point.

The choice of which fighter for BAF is more of a strategic one than a tactical one.

What the news reveals is that it will be a WESTERN design.

MONUMENTAL shift for BAF.

Secondly, most likely new build.

Again major shift.

Third, if the recent news is any indication, Bangladesh seems to be wanting to stay out of the US/China cold war as much as possible.

i.e. continuously stating it views the Indo-Pacific plans from the US as a non military entity. i.e. economic etc.

So looks like US options are out including Apache, GE engines for Gripen and AMRAAM. (unless things happen behinds the scenes which we do not know)

On the flip side, if BAF does choose Eurofighter, we are looking at Bangladesh beginning to source EXPENSIVE high end kit from Europe.

Allowing BAF to field a technologically modern force without being attached to US whims and at the same time leaving the door open for Chinese hardware.

Fourth point, the presence of Typhoon in BAF is a MAJOR psychological hit to Bangladesh's neighbors.

Especially if Tranche 3B or Tranche 4.

Perhaps the most capable birds in South Asia.

Certainly enough for Myanmar and even though its only 16 for now, may give India the nudge that says Bangladesh can't be walked over anymore.

Regardless bhais, rejoice these snippets of news and enjoy the process!!!

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

I think SAAB has permission to export the aircraft and doesn't need US permission. If you can't find a sourc ei, will search later.

Earlier gripen variants used a volvo engine but it think it has been discontinued. I could be wrong

 

[mb444]

EFT all the way because the western country that BD has the greatest leverage with is GB.... complete and utter no brainer...

My earnest wish is EFT.... BD in one move neutralises Raffles.... Meteor vs Meteor...checkmate IAF as far as venturing into BD skies.

All this postulation about Gripen.... BD has no leverage with sweden and sanction is more likely. Sweden can be easily bullied by US, although EFT has US component that is not the case with GB.

Bring on EFT and do it quick.

 

[bluesky]

Eurofighter with TOT?

this would be deal of the century.

The news does not say anything on ToT. This time it is just direct purchasing, not even assembling in Dhaka. I believe that no country would allow its very important and high end technology transfer without the latter being a partner in a defense alliance which BD is not to any country.

 

[fallstuff]

Eurofighter with TOT?

this would be deal of the century.

Bangladesh does not have the tech infrastructure needed to do anything with ToT, I would like to be wrong on this one !

 

[bluesky]

Bangladesh does not have the tech infrastructure needed to do anything with ToT, I would like to wrong on this one !

Exactly, this is the truth that BD has no technical background to consume any high technology. So, ToT for European fighter planes has no meaning for BD when even now, it is unable to build steam or diesel locomotives.

A jet fighter plane is certainly not a toy!!

 

[Skull and Bones]

This is a good enough budget to get Eurofighter, anything less will be a compromise.

 

[mb444]

The news does not say anything on ToT. This time it is just direct purchasing, not even assembling in Dhaka. I believe that no country would allow its very important and high end technology transfer without the latter being a partner in a defense alliance which BD is not to any country.

As far as EFT, TOT neither can we afford nor absorb.

For us start with trainer or take a risk and go for JV with the turks or the chinese on J10 or even JF with china/PK. There are no other options on the table..... to be frank even the turks are decades away.... only JV possibility is the J10 or JF for us.

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

As far as EFT, TOT neither can we afford nor absorb.

For us start with trainer or take a risk and go for JV with the turks or the chinese on J10 or even JF with china/PK. There are no other options on the table..... to be frank even the turks are decades away.... only JV possibility is the J10 or JF for us.

There is a gap created in terms of airpower. Let us bridge this gap with something (like EFT) . After that we could start the process of making basic trainers , IJT, AJT and then fighters.
EFT could be tip of the spear and another fighter (prefferably single engined ) could be the workhorse. My suggestions

 

[Jobless Jack]

This is a good enough budget to get Eurofighter, anything less will be a compromise.

In all honesty, i would have loved to see 2-3 squadrons of J10 with an armory of strike drones, but since BD wants european toys..

I hope they complete the mig squadron in the nexxt 2-3 years..

As far as EFT, TOT neither can we afford nor absorb.

For us start with trainer or take a risk and go for JV with the turks or the chinese on J10 or even JF with china/PK. There are no other options on the table..... to be frank even the turks are decades away.... only JV possibility is the J10 or JF for us.

Most likely bd will go for J10.. Start with producing key components in the country before producing the entire plane. And lets face it, the Chinese have been the longest and the most trusted supplier for BD for nearly 40+ years...

 

[mb444]

There is a gap created in terms of airpower. Let us bridge this gap with something (like EFT) . After that we could start the process of making basic trainers , IJT, AJT and then fighters.
EFT could be tip of the spear and another fighter (prefferably single engined ) could be the workhorse. My suggestions

Yeap thats the high low mix.... F7s except BGIs needs to be replaced now....BD probably will keep them going for a while but need to have a plan. Manufacturing anything I have not seen any real initiative but i suppose takes time and BAF has failed to put into action anything comprehensively. Yaks can not fill the void of the F7s.... they are trainers...can do some point defense but realistically cannon fodders.

Anyhow EFT is the goal.... probably another hype....but i live in hope..

In all honesty, i would have loved to see 2-3 squadrons of J10 with an armory of strike drones, but since BD wants european toys..

I hope they complete the mig squadron in the nexxt 2-3 years..



Most likely bd will go for J10.. Start with producing key components in the country before producing the entire plane. And lets face it, the Chinese have been the longest and the most trusted supplier for BD for nearly 40+ years...

J10 or JFT only realistic proposition...... J10 more suitable in my opinion purely from a geo-political as well as a technical standpoint.... as you say china is a trusted supplier and rohingya issue does not distract really from our wider interest.

 

[Destranator]

If I am not wrong, Gripen outsources a lot of it's parts from various countries and the Engine coming from US. While on paper it looks like the cheapest and best option, there is a strategic complication with Gripen procurement. BD has recently communicated openly we will not be signing security pact with US. Clearly we don't want US string attached to anything. Procuring Gripen would allow just that. Otherwise we could have gone for F 16s or F18s for that 3 billion.

So Gripen is definitely not happening for now.

Just because Gripen uses an American GE engine does not mean they are off limits. You actually have to go through the motions to try gaining US Congressional green light to know whether there would block the sales in any way. GE is a very influential American defence contractor with Congressmen in their pockets.
Countries like Thailand and South Africa are not exactly close allies of the US yet they operate the Gripens.

Look, EFT is a fantastic platform on its own but it needs to be backed up by numbers. My main concern is numbers.
Going for Hi without sorting Lo is a mistake, here's why:

The way our bureaucracy works: if takes a lot of pen pushing to get big deals through the chain. Once BAF ties up the bureaucracy with repayments for EFTs for years, the PMO, defence, finance and planning ministries will push back hard against any further deals for fighter jets in the next 10 years. The pen pushers will find ways to convince the PM to not approve any further fighter deals as defence spending is never their priority. Unlike BA and BN, BAF does not have the stomach fight it out.

1-2 squadrons of EFT is fantastic as a cherry on top if you already have 3-4 squadrons of Gripens/J-10s in service. It would be a nightmare for any air force to face EFTs conducting strike backed up by dozens of network connected Gripens/J-10s.

Again, I just hope a miracle happens and the EFT deal id quickly followed by orders for single engine fighters in good numbers.

 

[Destranator]

As far as EFT, TOT neither can we afford nor absorb.

For us start with trainer or take a risk and go for JV with the turks or the chinese on J10 or even JF with china/PK. There are no other options on the table..... to be frank even the turks are decades away.... only JV possibility is the J10 or JF for us.

The EFT ToT discussion was initiated in this thread by me mistyping Gripen with ToT" as "EFT with ToT'.

Gripen with ToT is very much possible. Of course it will be a slow and prolonged process to gain ToT as Saab would have to spoon feed a lot intially thanks to our non-existent aircraft assembly industry. They can start off by preparing BAF technicians to perform MRO of Gripens and then slowly set up an assembly and spares manufacturing plant under BAC. It will take at least 10 years before BAC can assemble Gripens. The same goes for J-10s.

 

[untitled]

Should invest in Su-57. May not be the best stealth aircraft but it is a stealth aircraft nonetheless. With no immediate threat facing Bangledesh and the Russians looking for investment, this could kickstart the aviation industry in Bangladesh