BANGLADESH AIR FORCE

The 'Bangladesh Air Force' (বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী 'Bangladesh Biman Bahini' in Bangla), is the tactical and strategic air branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh Air Force consists of more than 16,000 personnel including 2000 officers of whom 400 are pilots.

Contents

History

Installations

Officer Ranks

Aircraft

Markings

List of Air Force Chief

See also

References

External link

History

Bangladesh Air Force was formed at Dimapur, Nagaland (India) on 28 September 1971. At that time, the embryo of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was formed as 'Kilo Flight' to assist the Mukti Bahini (Freedom Fighters). Initially, 'Kilo Flight' consisted of three aircraft (given by Indian Air Force), 09 officers and 47 airmen. Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud (retired as Air Vice Marshal and Chief of the Air Staff of BAF) was appointed as the commander of the 'Kilo Flight'. After having some basic training on air to ground weapon delivery, 'Kilo Flight' successfully bombed Fuel storage in Chittagong and Narayangonj area and thus the journey of BAF had commenced. During the last phase of the Bangladesh Liberation War the newly formed Bangladesh Air Force carried out 12 successful attack missions over Pakistani targets.^[1]
After liberation in 1971, the Bangladesh Air Force was initially equipped with captured Pakistan Air Force equipment, mostly F-86 Sabres, and even these were few. Other equipment was donated from India and included: C-47 Dakotas, DHC-3s and Alouette Helicopters. Despite the lack of aircraft, the Pakistan Air Force prior to 1971 had a large number of Bengali pilots, many of them distinguishing themselves, this provided the Bangladesh Air Force with a good number of trained pilots and technicians.
As the 1970s progressed, the Bangladesh Air Force received equipment from the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. Soviet equipment included: MiG-21s, An-24s, An-26s, and Mi-8 helicopters. Chinese equipment include FT-5 & F-6 fighter plans. In the 1990s United States donated few trainer aircraft, such as the T-37.
Currently the Bangladesh Air Force is armed mostly with Chinese jets, A-5s and F-7s and 35 Shenyang F-6s. Recently it also procured Russian MiG-29s, although this has caused a controversy in political circles due to the cost. The controversy has led to talk of withdrawing the aircraft due to the costs involved in maintaining them. C-130 Hercules have also been acquired by the Bangladesh Air Force from USA on "as is where is" basis. Bangladesh Air Force also bought 12 Jian F-7MB's in the mid '90s and recently in 2005-6 bought 16 F-7BG's from China which are modern updated version of MiG-21'Fishbeds' but with revised wing design and more modern avionics and weaponry recently developed by China. F-7MG is fitted with Western-made radar and equipment. The F-7G is a further improved version introduced in 2002.
In 1995 the Bangladesh Air Force made its largest purchase from the U.S to date: 12 T-37 jet trainers. More recently, Bangladesh procured four C-130B Hercules transport aircraft (from old US Air Force stock). Bangladesh Air Force have also shown interest in purchasing the Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighters.
Bangladesh Air Force acquired 12 Jian F-7MG's and 16 F-7BG, which were modified F-7MG (with single piece canopy) with reconnaissance capability (similar to F-7MB) in 2005-6. These aircraft have capability to carry reconnaissance pods and operate the equipment inside the pods from cockpit. As witnessed during the Independence and National Day Parade 2007 aerobatic show, the wing design of 16 F-7BG are modified from the initial wing designMiG-21s. Instead of original delta wing of MiG-21s, the F-7MGs have merged delta wing, allowing the aircraft to maneuver in shorter radius. Bangladesh Air Force has also acquired a new improved version of Mi-17 (with nose mounted radar) in 2006.
Bangladesh is selling the 8 MiG 29's because of maintenance costs.It's replacing MiG 29's with 3-4 full squadrons of F-16 block C/D from U.S.A. It's also replacing it's aging A-5 ground attack/bomber fleet with advanced air supremacy and precision strike fighters Sukhoi Su-30MKs . Bangladesh Air Force has also showed interest in procuring J-10 multi-role fighters from China.^[2]

Installations

BAF HQ is located in Dhaka. Bashar Air Base is also in Dhaka which has Training and Educational facilities.Helicopter Squadron, Transport Squadron and PM's Air Fleet and BAF Recruiting and Retention Command is in this base.
Kurmitola Air Base - A large tactical air force base with independent facilities.This Base only operates fighter aircrafts.
Zahrul Haque Air Base in Chittagong has all types of aircrafts; bombers,transport,helicopters,jet trainers. The basic training for the other ranks are carried out in this base.
Matiur Rahman Base in Jessore is mainly a training base.
The Bangladesh Air Force academy is also located in Jessore.
BAF has developed new Bases in Sylhet, Mymenshingh, Bogra which from 2006 have been up and running. Further expansion and construction are on-going. BAF also maintains small base in Lalmonirhat and Cox's Bazar that is used for exercises.
Interestingly, BAF Bases Bashar, Zahurul Haque and Matiur are named after National and Air Force heroes. The latter are yet to be named.

Officer Ranks

(in decreasing order)^[3]

'Rank'
Marshal of the Air Force
Air Chief Marshal
Air Marshal
Air Vice Marshal
Air Commodore
Group Captain
Wing Commander
Squadron Leader
Flight Lieutenant
Flying Officer
Pilot Officer

Aircraft

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service^[4]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Aero L-39
|
| Trainer, light attack
| L-39ZA
| 8
| 12 in service previously.
|-----
| Antonov An-32
|
| Transport
|
| 3
|
|-----
| Bell 206
|
| Utility helicopter
| 206L
| 3
|
|-----
| Bell 212
|
| Utility helicopter
|
| 4
| As many as 13 in service previously.
|-----
| Cessna T-37 Tweet
|
| Trainer
| T-37B
| 12
| Survivors of more than 30 delivered.
|-----
| Chengdu J-7
|
| Fighter
| 'Total'
F-7MB
F-7MG
F-7BG
FT-7
| '100'
48
28
16
8
| More than 70 F-7MB delivered
|-----
| Fouga Magister
|
| Trainer
| CM 170
| 8
| Survivors of 15
|-----
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules
|
| Transport
| C-130B
| 4
| donated by US from its surplus stock
|-----
| Mikoyan MiG-29
|
| Fighter
| 'Total'
MiG-29
MiG-29UB
| 8
| 8 delivered
|-----
| Mil Mi-8
|

| Utility helicopter
| 'Total'
Mi-8
Mi-8MTV
Mi-17
| '17'
1
2
14
| More than 40 delivered
|-----
| F-6
|
| Trainer
|
| 25
| 45 delivered
|-----
| Nanchang Q-5
|
| Attack
| A-5C
| 18
| 40 delivered
|}
More than 40 Shenyang F-6 and FT-6 aircraft had been operated, which have recently been retired from service.

Markings

The basic dimensions of the Bangladesh Air Force badge, motto, ensign, and roundel are similar to that of many Commonwealth nations. Their basic colors are blue, green and red.

List of Air Force Chief

★ Air Vice Marshal Abdul Karim Khondoker

★ Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Ghulam Tawab

★ Air Vice Marshal Khademul Bashar

★ Air Vice Marshal Abdul Gafoor Mahmud

★ Air Vice Marshal Sultan Mahmud

★ Air Vice Marshal Sadruddin Ahmed

★ Air Vice Marshal Momtaz Uddin Ahmed

★ Air Vice Marshal Altaf Hossain Chowdhury

★ Air Vice Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed

★ Air Vice Marshal Rafiqul Islam

★ Air Vice Marshal Fakhrul Azam

★ Air Vice Marshal Shah Mohammed Ziaur Rahman

★ Air Marshal Shah Mohammed Ziaur Rahman(26th May 2007)
With effect from 26th May 2007, The rank of Air Chief was elevated from Air Vice Marshal to Air Marshal.

See also

Bangladesh Air Force

★ Aircraft Histories

★ Squadron Histories

★ Organisational Histories

★ Other Important Historical facts

★ Bangladesh Army

★ Bangladesh Navy

★ 2006 in Bangladesh

References

1. Bangladesh Air Force History
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2134603.stm
3. http://www.bdmilitary.com/main/ranksmedals/ranks/ranks_airforce.htm
4. "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', January 15 2007.

External link

★ More about Bangladesh Air Force

★ Bangladesh Air Force Order of Battle Courtesy of Scramble

★ Bangladesh Air Force Gallery

★ Bangladesh Air Force Pictures