Bangladesh Air-Force MRCA Program

[Isa Khan]

If your country signing for new F-16 today the first delivery would take some time between four to five years from the activated contract dates, maybe more. We got at least 140 or something backlog order, in which by 2026 the production line still wouldnt finish the order backlog.

And EFT, F-18?

 

[Madokafc]

And EFT, F-18?

Dunno, i am not working for Boeing nor Eurofighter gmbh

 

[Isa Khan]

https://www.facebook.com/DefsecaBD/posts/497783481781160

Which production line is least busy right now? If we want to expect the delivery of the first batch in next 3 years considering this year we sign the contract?

If your country signing for new F-16 today the first delivery would take some time between four to five years from the activated contract dates, maybe more. We got at least 140 or something backlog order, in which by 2026 the production line still wouldnt finish the order backlog.

And EFT, F-18?

Need to know about EFT, Gripen and F-18. The way things are going let's hope BAF don't end up buying Russian fighter jets after making so much noise.

 

[Zapper]

Bangladesh Sizes Up Typhoons for Fighter Requirement​

by Jon Lake
Feb 11, 2022 - 1:00 AM

Bangladesh has a requirement for 16 new multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) to augment and eventually replace its aging Chengdu F-7s and MiG-29s, and the nation wants to turn westward after decades of purchasing its fighter aircraft from Russia and China. The impetus for the shift came in 2015, with the appointment of a new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar, who wanted to phase out the Bangladesh Air Force fleet of Russian and Chinese fighters and replace them with Western aircraft. Esrar evaluated the Eurofighter Typhoon at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow and he reportedly “fell in love with it.” Esrar’s successor, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, appears equally enthusiastic, though a planned evaluation with Leonardo fell victim to the Covid pandemic.

Bangladesh’s Directorate General Defence Purchase (DGDP) launched a tender in 2017 for the purchase of eight fighters, plus options for an additional four, under the Forces Goal 2030 program. Later increased to 16 aircraft, the tender calls for a new-build, twin-engine fighter, with each engine producing at least 12,125 pounds of dry thrust and over 17,635 pounds with afterburner. The minimum payload will be five tonnes with at least eight weapons hardpoints. Additional stipulations call for the new fighter to come with active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar with an air-to-air range of 93 miles and an air-to-surface range of 31 miles, an infrared search and track (IRST) system, and an integrated electronic warfare (IEW) and electronic countermeasures (ECM) suite.

Bangladesh now fields a modest force of about 44 fighter aircraft, consisting of eight MiG-29s and MiG-29UBs assigned to No. 8 Squadron at Kurmitola (Bangabandhu airbase), the military enclave of Dhaka International Airport, and the survivors of 28 Chengdu F-7BGs and four FT-7BGs assigned to Nos. 5 and 35 Squadrons at the same location. Some 16 older F-7MB and eight FT-7MB aircraft have retired from service. Four of the MiG-29s were updated to MiG-29BM/UBM standards in Belarus between 2019 and 2020 and the remaining four are expected to follow, but they are no match for modern 4.5 generation fighters, while the F-7s are verging on obsolescence.

Under the 2009 Bangladesh Armed Forces Forces Goal 2030 modernization program, the Bangladesh Air Force received 16 Yak-130 advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft ordered in 2013, and planned to purchase eight Sukhoi Su-30SME aircraft in 2017. Relations with Moscow soured after it supported Myanmar over the Rohingya issue, however, and worsened after Russia agreed to sell the Yak-130 and Su-30 to Myanmar. Dhaka also did not like Moscow’s stipulation that it should buy MiG-35s along with the Su-30, and began seeking a new solution.

Accordingly, the Bangladesh Air Force asked the government to earmark around 25,200 Crore Taka ($3 billion) for 16 Western multi-role fighters with an advance of 6,300 Crore Taka for the financial year 2021-22. That will allow the Bangladesh Air Force to seek a complete package with aircraft, support, training, and a variety of weapons. It must also include the creation of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in the country.

Quite apart from the difficulties experienced by Dhaka in reaching an agreement on the Su-30, senior Bangladeshi officers felt that the aircraft would not provide sufficient operational advantage or overmatch because the Su-30 remains the mainstay of regional rivals India and Myanmar. Since the Bangladesh Air Force is so much smaller than those of potential foes it needs to achieve a favorable exchange ratio to impose a sufficiently heavy cost to deter any aggression. Using the same aircraft type would make that harder to achieve.

Western fighters carry significant advantages over Russian and Chinese types, and the Saab Gripen and Lockheed Martin F-16 reportedly have been offered and considered, though Bangladesh now plans to acquire more capable twin-engined fighters. The Dassault Rafale (in service with the Indian Air Force, which could be a drawback) and the Eurofighter Typhoon stand as the aircraft under consideration.

Although Italy is the Eurofighter partner designated to market the aircraft in Bangladesh, it seems likely that the UK also would support any formal campaign. The report following the third Bangladesh-UK strategic dialogue in 2019 stated: “The UK further expressed its readiness to support Bangladesh with procurement of high-caliber multi-role combat aircraft alongside other modernization programs."

Many in the Dhaka defense establishment believe that the Eurofighter Typhoon could give Bangladesh the capability edge it needs and could provide the deterrent capability it has lacked since the country became independent in 1971. For the Bangladesh Air Force, operating the Typhoon would provide a useful route toward forging relationships with the four high-tech Eurofighter partner nations and their air forces, and could provide opportunities to operate and train with the four GCC air arms that also fly the Typhoon

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-...bangladesh-sizes-typhoons-fighter-requirement

 

[Isa Khan]

https://www.facebook.com/DefsecaBD/posts/499840894908752

Our most assiduous readers know it: last June Bangladesh officially launched the Force Goal 2030 plan aimed at acquiring a new model of multi-role combat aircraft. After launching negotiations with France almost two years ago around the Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 , this country now seems to want to do an about-face in favor of the Airbus DS Typhoon Tranche 4 . Bad diplomatic relations between Bangladeshis and Indians are probably not unrelated . However, the American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed-Martin and its Swedish competitor Saab are present in ambushes.

For the record , Force Goal 2030 is a vast modernization program for the Bangladeshi armies, including an entire chapter on combat aviation. This provides for the withdrawal over the period 2025-2030 of the Chengdu F-7 Fishcan fighters of Chinese origin and the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum of Russian origin in favor of a single multi-role aircraft. Force Goal 2030 now drives the point home by insisting that the future aircraft must be produced in North America or Western Europe. Chinese and Russian aircraft manufacturers are therefore directly targeted in order to guarantee their exclusion from the competition.

Two years ago, the French Minister for the Armed Forces, Mrs. Florence Parly, entered into negotiations to this end with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Mrs. Sheikh Hasina. These revolved around fifteen Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 omnirole combat aircraft. Despite good relations, it now seems certain that the talks have yielded nothing very convincing. The Asian press increasingly insists that India's supplier countries are under diplomatic pressure not to arm Bangladesh. Diplomatic relations between the two neighbors are not looking good, against a backdrop of inter-religious tensions.
Yet the Bangladesh Air Force was clearly in favor of the Rafale.

So of course this could play into the hands of the two Western fighters reputed to be much cheaper to buy than the Rafale F4: the American Lockheed-Martin F-16V Viper and the Swedish Saab JAS 39E/F Gripen . And that's true. However, these two planes currently have only an outsider role in Bangladesh.

Because now it is Airbus DS and its No. 1 partner Leonardo who are concentrating their efforts on Bangladesh. If the latter cannot, diplomatically and/or politically, buy the Rafale F4, he can invest in the Typhoon Tranche 4. Often presented, probably a little wrongly, as the real competitor of the French jet, the European fighter is a little currently worth it. He no longer really chained export contracts and saw himself weighed down by the Austrian affair . Above all, the plane is much more marked as a machine adapted to the near and Middle Eastern market thanks in particular to its Kuwaiti, Omani and Saudi contracts. Bangladesh could truly open the Asian market to it, as India did for the Rafale. We are now talking about sixteen combat aircraft, including three operational transformation two- seaters .

As French people, and as Europeans, we don't have to shy away from our pleasure. Because if the Rafale F4 now seems rather out of the race, it is Airbus Defense & Space that leads the market. And that too can be good for our national and continental industry.
Case to follow.

L'Airbus DS Typhoon pourrait ravir le Bangladesh au Dassault Aviation Rafale. - avionslegendaires.net

13 février 2022, par Arnaud. Nos lectrices et lecteurs les plus assidus le savent : depuis juin dernier le Bangladesh a officiellement lancé le plan Force Goal 2030 visant à acquérir

www.avionslegendaires.net

 

[Zapper]

@Isa Khan Putting politics and lobbying aside with media outlets pushing their own paid narrative, which fighter jet is BAF keen on inducting since Rafale is more suited for Air-to-Ground attack role while EFT is more geared towards Air-to-Air. I assume your primary adversary is MAF fielding their jf-17s...so no matter what aircraft BAF inducts among these two, they can squat em like flies

 

[Michael Corleone]

You should do it years ago, F-16 actually fit for your requirement, but you need Amraam to do the jobs

True. Any deal with Americans should include the clause for amraams, otherwise we’re better without fighter jets

Couldn't find the source but if i remember correctly they are trying to reduce EFT's operating cost to 12000-15000 USD which is lower than F-16's operating cost 22000-24000 USD.

F 16 operational cost including overheads is 12-14 k now. 8k per hour flight cost. Pretty cheap even compared to our mig 29s

There's a long queue for the -16s.

Unfortunately. Even new production is booked? I thought Philippines will take refurbished jets

 

[Madokafc]

True. Any deal with Americans should include the clause for amraams, otherwise we’re better without fighter jets

F 16 operational cost including overheads is 12-14 k now. 8k per hour flight cost. Pretty cheap even compared to our mig 29s

Unfortunately. Even new production is booked? I thought Philippines will take refurbished jets

Philippines still no progress, though they already had been given green light before in 2021

 

[Isa Khan]

F 16 operational cost including overheads is 12-14 k now. 8k per hour flight cost. Pretty cheap even compared to our mig 29s

Source?

 

[Destranator]

BAF should just settle for the sanction proof EFT + J10 combo. This coupled with LR SAMs and SRBMs will give us enough deterrence against India and Burma.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Source?

 

[Isa Khan]

After reading four-five reports it looks like we're still considering Russian fighter jets. (Multiple mentions of Sukhoi)

 

[Michael Corleone]

After reading four-five reports it looks like we're still considering Russian fighter jets. (Multiple mentions of Sukhoi)

Great then their performance in ukraine has been lackluster and they use civilian gps module because Russian glonass is out of order

 

[Isa Khan]

Great then their performance in ukraine has been lackluster and they use civilian gps module because Russian glonass is out of order

They ran out of PGM. But saw a Su-34 with KAB-1500 PGM yesterday. Anyway our Mig-29BM and Yak-130 only uses KAB-500 PGM with TV guidance. Judging by the Mig-29 tender they'll probably keep provision for GPS guidance "if" they buy Sukhoi so no worry about glonass. Also we can follow Mig-29 example if we need to.

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

After reading four-five reports it looks like we're still considering Russian fighter jets. (Multiple mentions of Sukhoi)

3 billion requested for 16 jets. ~186 Million USD per jet. none of the Russian jets cost that much. imo its going to be Rafale (based on Indonesian Purchase of 189 million/jet) Plus Gov not going to risk CATSAA.

 

[Michael Corleone]

3 billion requested for 16 jets. ~186 Million USD per jet. none of the Russian jets cost that much. imo its going to be Rafale (based on Indonesian Purchase of 189 million/jet) Plus Gov not going to risk CATSAA.

I think the price could count for weapons package included? Even then 100 million is the max I see for Russian jets

didn’t army snub airforce MRCA budget recently?

 

[Ryder]

I think the price could count for weapons package included? Even then 100 million is the max I see for Russian jets

didn’t army snub airforce MRCA budget recently?

Bro its good to see you man.

I hope all is well man.

 

[Michael Corleone]

Bro its good to see you man.

I hope all is well man.

All is good brother

 

[Isa Khan]

• Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan will meet with chief of United States Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr, Acting Director of Defense Security Cooperation Agency Mr Jedidiah P. Royal and visit the F-16, F-18 production facilities.

Just seven months ago, his predecessor Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat also met with chief of United States Air Force and Director of Defense Security Cooperation Agency. He discussed about MRCA, GSOMIA and ACSA. He also visited F-16, F-18 production facilities. I haven't seen this type of activities for EFT, Rafale. 2020's report says Dhaka showed interest in American fighter jet which we didn't see about EU fighters.

• So CAS checked F-16 simulator in Turkey.
• According to DTB, BAF pilots and engineers are in France. The report was also supported by DefSeca, DefRes. (DTB is actually more reliable source. Personally talked with him about it)
• According to DefSeca, Bangladesh Air Force personnel undertaking training for Eurofighter. (Let's hope it's true like the J-10, Rafale)

So i assume all three jets are currently under field survey like the J-10 in 2018.

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

Italian Tabloid report on EFT offer to Egypt



"Al Sisi is just waiting for a phone call from Draghi," says an authoritative representative of the Italian government. The phone call should unlock a military contract worth at least 3 billion euros. About 60% of the sum would go to Leonardo. The former Finmeccanica has been in talks with Egypt for three years for the sale of 24 Eurofighters, the [...]

(locked behind the paywall)

L’offerta all’Egitto per 24 Eurofighter - Il Fatto Quotidiano

“Al Sisi aspetta solo una telefonata di Draghi”, dice un autorevole esponente del governo italiano. La telefonata dovrebbe sbloccare una commessa militare del valore di almeno 3 miliardi di euro. Circa il 60% della somma andrebbe a Leonardo. L’ex Finmeccanica è da tre anni in trattative con...

www.ilfattoquotidiano.it

3 billion for 24 jets means ~ 125 million USD/aircraft .
Bear in mind Egypt would be a first time customer , not sure if this sum includes associated costs, would not be surprised if there is a combination of new and old airframes in this offer @Isa Khan