Indian Air Force offers facilities to Bangladesh

[ssheppard]

---

---

The Indian Air Force is offering the Bangladesh Biman Bahini (Bangladesh air force) the use of its facilities to modernise and maintain fighter aircraft and helicopters, a senior defence source told The Telegraph here.

In reaching out to Dhaka with an offer to help upgrade its air fleet, New Delhi is stepping into an area in which Bangladesh has been dependent mainly on China and, to a limited extent, on Pakistan, Russia and the US.

Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, currently in Dhaka on a week’s visit that began on Saturday, offered the use of Indian Air Force facilities in meetings with the chief of the Bangladesh Biman Bahini, Air Marshal S.M. Ziaur Rehman.

The IAF is understood to have offered to liaise with defence public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore, to help modernise Bangladesh’s MiG-29 aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters. The IAF flies and has upgraded the two aircraft for its own fleet. HAL is engaged in upgrading India’s own MiG-29s.

This is the first visit by an Indian Air Force chief to Bangladesh in more than five years. The last such visit was in 2004. But the Bangla air chief was here in April 2009.

Military-to-military relations with Bangladesh have been resuscitated since the visit by the Bangladesh army chief in February 2008.

An IAF source pointed out that while Bangladesh had mostly Chinese and some American-origin aircraft, it also had a squadron of MiG-29aircraft.

Nearly 70 per cent of Bangladesh’s flying fleet is aged, with the fighter aircraft being 20 years old or even more than that. Bangladesh has taken help from China and Pakistan for its A-5 and A-7 Chinese-origin aircraft.

But the Indian Air Force has said that the facilities for its Mi-17 helicopters (the IAF flies the transport helicopter in large numbers), the MiG-29 and the Antonov 32 could be spared for Bangladesh’s limited air force. Bangladesh flies three AN 32s and 14 Mi-17s.

In Dhaka, Air Chief Marshal Naik has met President Zillur Rahman and was scheduled to meet Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday. He has also met the three chiefs of the armed forces.

“The main focus of the visit will be on improving bilateral relations, promoting defence ties, outlining further areas of defence co-operation between the two countries and resolving pending issues through dialogue and understanding,” the air force source said.


The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | IAF offers Dhaka facilities

[iajdani]

Ya right!!!!

[Ojana]

BD should close its Army. Because we have no enemy. It seems India becomes our helpful friend now-a-days. Let's see how will be this relation after 4 or 5 years. Congrats to AL, huh!

[Ingis]

BD should close its Army. Because we have no enemy. It seems India becomes our helpful friend now-a-days. Let's see how will be this relation after 4 or 5 years. Congrats to AL, huh!

It is definitely a positive step to build closer links between the two. And in my opinion, India will always have good relations with Bangladesh provided the obnoxious BNP is kept out of power.

[mijanur]

great news

[garibnawaz]

Ya right!!!!

IAF already provides facilities for Singaporese AF. If we can for Singaporese whats so special in BAF that we cant offer them the same?

Singapore Leases Military Base In Eastern Mainland India For Five Years | India Defence

GB

[jagjitnatt]

India and Bangladesh should join hands and collaborate on more vital points too like eradicating poverty, encouraging education, trade and business oppurtunities.

We can also be like US and Canada. We are the same race, same geography, and even same problems. Why can't we work them out together?

[Veer]

We should work together for peace in south Asia. Also we should help brother Bangladesh in every manner and they can save money from military expenses for development. As Bhutan have no military forces and is under India's protection and every attack on Bhutan will be take as attack on India. We should also help Bangladesh like this.

[Lankan Ranger]

India Offers Upgrade Bangladeshi MiG-29 Jet and Mi-17 helicopters

The Indian Air Force is offering the Bangladesh Biman Bahini (Bangladesh air force) the use of its facilities to modernise and maintain fighter aircraft and helicopters, a senior defence source told. In reaching out to Dhaka with an offer to help upgrade its air fleet, New Delhi is stepping into an area in which Bangladesh has been dependent mainly on China and, to a limited extent, on Pakistan, Russia and the US.

Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik, currently in Dhaka on a week’s visit that began on Saturday, offered the use of Indian Air Force facilities in meetings with the chief of the Bangladesh Biman Bahini, Air Marshal S.M. Ziaur Rehman. The IAF is understood to have offered to liaise with defence public sector company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore, to help modernise Bangladesh’s MiG-29 aircraft and Mi-17 helicopters. The IAF flies and has upgraded the two aircraft for its own fleet. HAL is engaged in upgrading India’s own MiG-29s.

This is the first visit by an Indian Air Force chief to Bangladesh in more than five years. The last such visit was in 2004. But the Bangla air chief was here in April 2009. Military-to-military relations with Bangladesh have been resuscitated since the visit by the Bangladesh army chief in February 2008. An IAF source pointed out that while Bangladesh had mostly Chinese and some American-origin aircraft, it also had a squadron of MiG-29aircraft.

Nearly 70 per cent of Bangladesh’s flying fleet is aged, with the fighter aircraft being 20 years old or even more than that. Bangladesh has taken help from China and Pakistan for its A-5 and A-7 Chinese-origin aircraft.But the Indian Air Force has said that the facilities for its Mi-17 helicopters (the IAF flies the transport helicopter in large numbers), the MiG-29 and the Antonov 32 could be spared for Bangladesh’s limited air force. Bangladesh flies three AN 32s and 14 Mi-17s.

In Dhaka, Air Chief Marshal Naik has met President Zillur Rahman and was scheduled to meet Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday. He has also met the three chiefs of the armed forces. “The main focus of the visit will be on improving bilateral relations, promoting defence ties, outlining further areas of defence co-operation between the two countries and resolving pending issues through dialogue and understanding,” the air force source said.

ASIAN DEFENCE: India Offers Upgrade Bangladeshi MiG-29 Jet and Mi-17 helicopters

[Lankan Ranger]

We should work together for peace in south Asia. Also we should help brother Bangladesh in every manner and they can save money from military expenses for development. As Bhutan have no military forces and is under India's protection and every attack on Bhutan will be take as attack on India. We should also help Bangladesh like this.

I hope every attack on SRI LANKA will be take as attack on China

[garibnawaz]

For those who are laughing here is a tonic for them.



The award giving ceremony of No. 82 Junior Command and Staff Course of Bangladesh Air Force was held at the BAF Command and Staff Training Institute (CSTI) at Dhaka Cantonment here yesterday.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S M Ziaur Rahman attended the ceremony as the chief guest and distributed certificates among the graduating officers.

Squadron Leader Gaurav Karandikar of Indian Air Force was awarded the "Chief of Air Staff's Trophy" for his best performance in the course.

GB

[garibnawaz]

I hope every attack on SRI LANKA will be take as attack on China

And who will attack Sri Lanka?

How China will defend the Sri Lankan soil with such attack?

GB

[Veer]

I hope every attack on SRI LANKA will be take as attack on China

???????????????????

From where does china come from stop having wet dreams.

[Al-zakir]

It's just a courtesy offer. Nothing serious to be taken and BD army is not fool to cooperate with enemy in defence. Al may be pro-bharat but BD army ain't.

Bhratis presence irritating alot of Bd's and Al will face the music soon for too much mingling with enemy.

[Al-zakir]

---

---

BD should close its Army. Because we have no enemy. It seems India becomes our helpful friend now-a-days. Let's see how will be this relation after 4 or 5 years. Congrats to AL, huh!

I understand your pain but we will not let Al munafiq to sell our sovereignty that easy. Have patience my brother.