Was the Bangladeshi MIG 29's necessary?

[Field Marshal Siddique]

As we can see, apart from the Liberation war of Bangladesh, no major war has taken place in Bangladesh which is of any threat. It is true that Bangladesh participated in many major wars (like the gulf war and UN mission) but regarding the airforce, was those MIG 29's really necessary? I think the navy should be modernised than the airforce....

 

[Zabaniyah]

Why are you saying that? What is the logic of boosting navy? Both navy and air force are very expensive matters.

And no, Bangladesh has not participated in any major wars, other than UN peacekeeping missions.

We do not need a strong and technologically advanced military at the moment. Efforts should go to economic and social development first. We do not need expensive jets to address current national security issues. It is more of an intelligence affair, which I believe is an area really lacking. Also, this lavish lifestyle of officers and free land needs to stop.

And usually, expensive procurements such as the MIG-29 are often handled by dirty hands. Partly due to Russian blackmailing, maintaining those aircraft are very costly.

 

[integra]

And no, Bangladesh has not participated in any major wars, other than UN peacekeeping missions.

Well a 2,300-member Bangladesh Army contingent served with coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf war but was it for UN (as in coalition forces) is out of my database.

 

[desioptimist]

Bangladesh should invest more on army.
Your Air Force and Navy cant take on anybody, and is a drain on taxpayers money.
Army on the hand can be used as peacekeepers and earn lot of moeny. They can give jobs to lots of people.
Also, they can be used as good resistance fighter if your country is attacked.
With huge population, you should focus on anything that requires lot of human labour.

 

[Galaxy]

Well a 2,300-member Bangladesh Army contingent served with coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf war but was it for UN (as in coalition forces) is out of my database.

There is Huge difference between Peace making war for U.N. and War against any country on own.

MIG29 will be outdated after few years. Bangladesh doesn't need to waste billions of Dollars on Expensive Aircraft. I don't think BD has any threat. And remember, No War also has huge expenses in Maintainance, Up-gradation and Salary.

Small Defence is Ok to protect in case. BD has only 2 Neighbour countries. Indeed Only India. If you think, India is threat (which i never thought even in dream) then MIG29 is like 2% of India. BD should not spend too much of Money in these things.

Real problem with BD is Population. Highest Per Hectare Population. Its 4 times than Pakistan and India. That Should be 1st and most important concern. Otherwise things will be out of control sooner or later.

Just My Personal View.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Well a 2,300-member Bangladesh Army contingent served with coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf war but was it for UN (as in coalition forces) is out of my database.

Yeah, I forgot about the fact that Bangladesh was a part of the coalition during the first Gulf war, but still under UN.

Bangladesh should invest more on army.
Your Air Force and Navy cant take on anybody, and is a drain on taxpayers money.
Army on the hand can be used as peacekeepers and earn lot of moeny. They can give jobs to lots of people.
Also, they can be used as good resistance fighter if your country is attacked.
With huge population, you should focus on anything that requires lot of human labour.

Our army is already pretty big. All it needs are some good tanks which is well under way (Type-96Gs).

A good air force, including a world-class air defense network is necessary to defend the country. But other than air defense part, procurements of expensive aircraft shouldn't be on the priority right now.

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

Bangladesh doesn't have to face off huge armies and Nuke armed rivals .....over expenditure on Armed forces will undoubtably cut into funds for development .

 

[UKBengali]

Bangladesh government is currently doing the right thing by keeping defence expenditure at a very low percentage of GDP(around 1.5% now). It should be raised no higher than this at least for this decade. This will then allow the maximum amount of money to be funnelled into the areas that Bangladesh needs to be spending money on - infrastructure, education, health spending and supporting the extreme poor.

To answer the orginal question, those Migs should not have been brought when they were but I am sure that at least it gave Bangladsehi pilots crucial experience in operating high-performance military jets.

 

[Gandhi G in da house]

Bangladesh is a lucky country with no major disputes with any country hence it can use all its resources for development unlike some countries in its neighbourhood . Bangladesh should make use of such a god given oppurtunity

 

[tallboy123]

If a BD pilot wants to switch on his After burner n reach mach 1.5 mach speed,he has to direct his plane towards bay of bengal,Coz if he thinks of other three side,he will be in Indian Air space n will have Aakash SAM chasing his back.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Just kidding
(Aakash Sam is active in NE ,u know obvious reason)

 

[tallboy123]

BTW,Has bangladesh upgraded Mig-29 to SMT standards???

 

[eastwatch]

BTW,Has bangladesh upgraded Mig-29 to SMT standards???

BAF's 15 or 16 units of mig-29s have been upgraded to SMT level. It is considering to procure a total of 2 or 3 sq from any two of of either Mig-29SMT, F-7BG or FC-1. There is no clear indication yet about the type, but BAF has been given funds to make the purchases.

BAF does not want to stay put on these buying plans. It aims to buy also at least one sq. of 4++ generation fighters within the next 5(?) years. BAF has already started a vast air defence system to protect our land-based assets. It is paying more attention to this, because our planes are vulnerable without these. The planes can be attacked with missiles and destroyed when still on the tarmac.

BD cannot afford a luxury of not buying frigates, tanks and planes. It has ordered at least 100 units of T-96G MBTs. 44 units seem to have already reached the shore. These 44 units will make a single tank regiment. BD has also upgraded many of its old tanks with new engines, ATGMs etc.

A country should not depend upon the goodwill of its neighbours. BD has quite a quantity of natural resources in the BoB that need protection by its military. BN is also purchasing frigates, corvettes, FACs, SSMs etc. BN is also producing its missile FACs in the Khulna Shipyard with Chinese collaboration. BN will also buy 4 units of submarines, probably from Turkey.

A country cannot limit its purchase only to navy because it has to protect resources in the seas. It needs all other branches of defence to be strong as well. Anyway, our military knows very well about its requirements and is making its purchases step by step so as not to overburden our economy.

The country should prepare itself for any eventuality. Why people say negative about a strong military? Look, BD won independence by an armed struggle, and it needs to upkeep its independence. A strong military is a good deterence. However strong an enemy may be, it will think twice before messing up with a strong country.

We must note one thing. Whenever AL comes to power it makes major military purchases, and another party does just the opposite. It tries to send the purchasing officers to jail out of jealousy.

 

[desioptimist]

We must note one thing. Whenever AL comes to power it makes major military purchases, and another party does just the opposite. It tries to send the purchasing officers to jail out of jealousy.

I thought AL is influenced by India. Any specific reason why they do major military purchase and BNP does not?

 

[Qasibr]

I thought Bangladesh faced threats from Burma. The MiG-29s were in reaction to Burma beefing up it's AF with the same jets.

Weakness invites aggression, and that is why Bangladesh maintains a strong deterant. A balance needs to be maintained between defence, and development, and it looks like our Bengali brothers are doing a remarkably good job of doing that.

Besides, I believe the Navy is not in a bad shape either.

 

[eastwatch]

I thought AL is influenced by India. Any specific reason why they do major military purchase and BNP does not?

There was a time when India wanted a disarmed Bangladesh and used to say BD defence can be fulfilled by India. This is the approach that BD people find fault with. India had even vetoed the formation of Commando battaion in BD. But, somehow BD managed to do it very secretly with the training provided by the Bangali commandoes of PA.

However, things did not turn around positively until General Ziaur Rahman became the President. Until the killing of Sk. Mujib, BD military was being ruined by a kind of Indian influence. Military had no purchases of hardwares. Their food ration became very meager, training facilities were waiting for demolition.

Military was angry, but was helpless to change the situation. Leadership were also helpless because no other country would help rebuild our military when the then AL leadership was thought as puppets of India.

This changed when Gen. Zia came to power. He started a fence mending policy with Beijing and sent a military attache to the BD Embassy in that country. Things started to change little by little. China started to fulfill the requirements of our military.

Now about present day politics. BNP's founder Zia himself was a general and his family is well regarded and trusted by the military. AL was regarded as anti-military after 1971 and is still regarded as such. When BNP comes to power it does not have to do any big purchasing. They only change the names of certain ships and garrisons. But, still they are trusted.

When AL comes to power it has to gain trust from the military by purchasing hardwares it needs. This is how AL spends much more than the BNP. It is happening more this time than it was last time. India cannot just stop us from purchasing. India, however, understands that BD's small military purchases are for defense only and it does not pose any threat to India like Pakistan does.