fatman17
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Bangladesh Air Force
Bangladesh Biman Bahini
The following areas will be covered.
GENERAL | ORDER OF BATTLE | INVENTORY | BASES
Bangladesh gained its independence in 1971 after years of political turmoil. Initial equipment consisted of aircraft left behind by the Pakistan Air Force, including Canadair Sabres. Further surplus equipment was delivered by India before the Soviet Union and China became the main suppliers of military aircraft to the country.
The most capable combat aircraft currently in service are the eight Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrums ordered in June 1999. However, the Bangladesh Air Force offered the aircraft for sale in 2002 as they have proved to be expensive to operate, although more recently it requested replacement of its existing examples with later variants.
Five radar squadrons provide air surveillance with ground-based radar. Capability was boosted by the delivery of two IL-117 3-D medium-range radars ordered in 1996, which were initially based at Jessore and Kanchanpur to cover the west and north of the country. It was planned to order further systems at a later date and base them in the Dhaka and Chittagong areas.
Alongside the MiG-29s based at Bashar Air Base, Dhaka-Kurmitola, adjacent to Zia International Airport, are around 25 Chengdu F-7/FT-7s of several versions that are primarily tasked with the for ground attack role. The aircraft carry the markings of both No.5 Supersonics and 35 Thundercats squadrons as they are centrally maintained and issued to each unit to fly when required. In 1999 it was proposed to equip at lease one F-7M with a reconnaissance pod to revive a capacity lost when the sole Shenyang RF-6 was retired in 1997.
The most capable ground attack aircraft in service are around a dozen Nanchang A-5C Fantails flown by No.21 Squadron from Bashar Air Base. Shenyang FT-6s are used as conversion trainers for the similar A-5Cs. At Zahurul Haque Air Base, Chittagong-Patenga, No 25 Squadron Trendsetters operates Aero Vodochody L-39ZA Albatross advanced and weapons trainers, which are also used in the light strike role. An initial eight aircraft were delivered in 1996, followed by another four from Aero and three acquired from the Romanian Air Force. The same squadron also flies some of the small number of Shenyang FT-6s that remain in service.
The Air Force Academy is based at Matiur Rahman Air Base outside Jessore and consists of the Cadet Wing, Academic Wing and Flying Training Wing, with the later controlling three squadrons. The Nanchang PT-6 is used for basic training, with pilots later transitioning to the Cessna T-37B. There are still several T-37s flying, survivors of a batch handed over by the United States in 1997 to replace the Fouga CM170 Magisters. Rotary-wing training is undertaken on Bell 206L LongRangers. Unconfirmed reports state that the PT-6 and LongRanger squadrons have moved away from Matiur Rahman to either Bogra or Shamshemagar.
Most pilots complete around 100 hours on the PT-6 and between 60 to 75 hours on the T-37 or (if destined for a career as a helicopter pilot) LongRanger over a two year period. However, those destined for multi-engined types complete the second half of their course on Antonov An-32 Clines with No. 3 Squadron. Three An-32s were delivered in 1990 and 1995. The later arrival of four former US Air Force Lockheed C-130B Hercules for No.33 Squadron greatly increased the Bangladesh Air Forces airlift capabilities.
Around ten Bell 212s are flown on light transport duties by No.9 Squadron from Tejgaon airfield on the large Bashar base, although one is usually on detachment to Zahurul Haque Air Base. Another helicopter unit flies Mil Mi-17 Hips from Tejgaon on both general and VIP transport roles, while a second squadron with Hips, No.1, is based at Zahurul Haque Air Base. The helicopter fleet is heavily utilised on disaster relief missions, especially during the frequent cyclones that afflict the country.
It was reported in the Bangladesh media during May 2006 that two Raytheon Beechcraft 200 King Airs would be purchased for the maritime patrol role. An unnamed Singaporean company would equip the aircraft with a 360° search radar, sonobuoy dropping and monitoring equipment, a FLIR (forward looking infrared), LLLTV (low-light level TV), electronic surveillance measures, observation windows and a hatch for the airdropping of survival equipment. While the aircraft would initially be delivered to the Bangladesh Air Force, naval personnel would be trained to operate it. If this would result in the Bangladesh Navy creating an independent air arm or continuing to rely on the air force remained unreported.
Rapid Action Battalion Air Wing
The Rapid Action Battalion, with headquarters at Zia International Airport, is responsible for providing security for VVIPs and undertaking surveillance operations. In support of its missions an Air Wing was established with three components (a Headquarters, Flying Unit and Flight Line) and assigned its first director in July 2006. Although at that point it did not have any aircraft directly assigned, it did plan to operate its own helicopters in the near future.
ref; AirForceIntel.com
to be continued...
Bangladesh Biman Bahini
The following areas will be covered.
GENERAL | ORDER OF BATTLE | INVENTORY | BASES
Bangladesh gained its independence in 1971 after years of political turmoil. Initial equipment consisted of aircraft left behind by the Pakistan Air Force, including Canadair Sabres. Further surplus equipment was delivered by India before the Soviet Union and China became the main suppliers of military aircraft to the country.
The most capable combat aircraft currently in service are the eight Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrums ordered in June 1999. However, the Bangladesh Air Force offered the aircraft for sale in 2002 as they have proved to be expensive to operate, although more recently it requested replacement of its existing examples with later variants.
Five radar squadrons provide air surveillance with ground-based radar. Capability was boosted by the delivery of two IL-117 3-D medium-range radars ordered in 1996, which were initially based at Jessore and Kanchanpur to cover the west and north of the country. It was planned to order further systems at a later date and base them in the Dhaka and Chittagong areas.
Alongside the MiG-29s based at Bashar Air Base, Dhaka-Kurmitola, adjacent to Zia International Airport, are around 25 Chengdu F-7/FT-7s of several versions that are primarily tasked with the for ground attack role. The aircraft carry the markings of both No.5 Supersonics and 35 Thundercats squadrons as they are centrally maintained and issued to each unit to fly when required. In 1999 it was proposed to equip at lease one F-7M with a reconnaissance pod to revive a capacity lost when the sole Shenyang RF-6 was retired in 1997.
The most capable ground attack aircraft in service are around a dozen Nanchang A-5C Fantails flown by No.21 Squadron from Bashar Air Base. Shenyang FT-6s are used as conversion trainers for the similar A-5Cs. At Zahurul Haque Air Base, Chittagong-Patenga, No 25 Squadron Trendsetters operates Aero Vodochody L-39ZA Albatross advanced and weapons trainers, which are also used in the light strike role. An initial eight aircraft were delivered in 1996, followed by another four from Aero and three acquired from the Romanian Air Force. The same squadron also flies some of the small number of Shenyang FT-6s that remain in service.
The Air Force Academy is based at Matiur Rahman Air Base outside Jessore and consists of the Cadet Wing, Academic Wing and Flying Training Wing, with the later controlling three squadrons. The Nanchang PT-6 is used for basic training, with pilots later transitioning to the Cessna T-37B. There are still several T-37s flying, survivors of a batch handed over by the United States in 1997 to replace the Fouga CM170 Magisters. Rotary-wing training is undertaken on Bell 206L LongRangers. Unconfirmed reports state that the PT-6 and LongRanger squadrons have moved away from Matiur Rahman to either Bogra or Shamshemagar.
Most pilots complete around 100 hours on the PT-6 and between 60 to 75 hours on the T-37 or (if destined for a career as a helicopter pilot) LongRanger over a two year period. However, those destined for multi-engined types complete the second half of their course on Antonov An-32 Clines with No. 3 Squadron. Three An-32s were delivered in 1990 and 1995. The later arrival of four former US Air Force Lockheed C-130B Hercules for No.33 Squadron greatly increased the Bangladesh Air Forces airlift capabilities.
Around ten Bell 212s are flown on light transport duties by No.9 Squadron from Tejgaon airfield on the large Bashar base, although one is usually on detachment to Zahurul Haque Air Base. Another helicopter unit flies Mil Mi-17 Hips from Tejgaon on both general and VIP transport roles, while a second squadron with Hips, No.1, is based at Zahurul Haque Air Base. The helicopter fleet is heavily utilised on disaster relief missions, especially during the frequent cyclones that afflict the country.
It was reported in the Bangladesh media during May 2006 that two Raytheon Beechcraft 200 King Airs would be purchased for the maritime patrol role. An unnamed Singaporean company would equip the aircraft with a 360° search radar, sonobuoy dropping and monitoring equipment, a FLIR (forward looking infrared), LLLTV (low-light level TV), electronic surveillance measures, observation windows and a hatch for the airdropping of survival equipment. While the aircraft would initially be delivered to the Bangladesh Air Force, naval personnel would be trained to operate it. If this would result in the Bangladesh Navy creating an independent air arm or continuing to rely on the air force remained unreported.
Rapid Action Battalion Air Wing
The Rapid Action Battalion, with headquarters at Zia International Airport, is responsible for providing security for VVIPs and undertaking surveillance operations. In support of its missions an Air Wing was established with three components (a Headquarters, Flying Unit and Flight Line) and assigned its first director in July 2006. Although at that point it did not have any aircraft directly assigned, it did plan to operate its own helicopters in the near future.
ref; AirForceIntel.com
to be continued...
