Bangladesh Air Force

History

Foundation

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was officially formed on 28 September 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It consisted of revolting Bengali officers and airmen who defected from the Pakistan Air Force at Dimapur Airport in the Indian state of Nagaland. It was launched formally by flying three repaired vintage aircraft on 8 October 1971. BAF's initial personnel were around 1,000 Bengali members of the Pakistan Air Force, who were stationed in East Pakistan at the outbreak of the war and who defected to the Bangladeshi side. At that time, the embryo of the BAF was formed with less than a hundred officers and around 900 airmen. These numbers were gradually strengthened by the slow but steady defection from among the around 3,000 Bengali officers and airmen stationed and grounded in West Pakistan. By the first week of December, a total of 700 Bengali officers and airmen had defected from the western border. A significant number of BAF personnel participated in the ground warfare roles in the conflict. During the war, initially, officers of the BAF attached to the then Bangladesh Government were Chief Representative to Chakulia Guerrilla Training Camp Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, Group Captain A. K. Khandker, DCOS Army (Liaison) later Sub-Sector Commander and as Commander - Sector 11, Flight Lieutenant Liaqat as Battalion Adjutant, Flying Officer Rouf, Flying Officer Ashraf, and Flight Sergeant Shafiqullah as company commanders. Squadron Leader Sadruddin Hossain, Squadron Leader Wahidur Rahim, Squadron Leader Nurul Qader, Squadron Leader Shamsur Rahman, and Squadron Leader Ataur Rahman as sub sector company commanders. Wing Commander Khademul Bashar participated in the war as Commander-Sector 6.

Indian civilian authorities and the IAF donated 1 DC-3 Dakota (gifted by the Maharaja of Jodhpur), 1 Twin Otter plane, and 1 Alouette III helicopter for the new-born Bangladesh Air Force. The Bengali rank and file fixed up the World War II vintage runway at Dimapur Airport, then began rigging the aircraft for combat duty. The Dakota was modified to carry 500-pound bombs, but for technical reasons, it was only used to ferry Bangladesh government personnel. The Alouette III helicopter was rigged to fire 14 rockets from pylons attached to its side and had .303 Browning machine guns installed, in addition to having 1-inch (25 mm) steel plate welded to its floor for extra protection. The Twin Otter boasted 7 rockets under each of its wings and could deliver ten 25-pound bombs, which were rolled out of the aircraft by hand through a makeshift door. This tiny force was dubbed Kilo Flight, the first fighting formation of the nascent Bangladesh Air Force. Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud was appointed as the commander of the 'Kilo Flight'.

After independence

After independence, in November–December 1972, the BAF received a significant donation from the former USSR. Among the aircraft delivered were ten single-seat Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MFs, two twin-seat Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21UMs, and twelve Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters. Later on, China also supplied some equipment.

Apart from the aircraft of Kilo Flight, which were donated by India, most Pakistan Air Force aircraft grounded in Dhaka due to runway cratering by the Indian Air Force during the liberation war were sabotaged before surrender. Of these, four Canadair Sabres were also returned to service by Bangladeshi ground technicians in 1972. The Pakistan Air Force, prior to 1971, had many Bengali pilots, air traffic controllers, technicians, and administrative officers, and the general Bengali representation in the Pakistan Air Force was around 15% (and 18% in the officer ranks) of the 25,000-odd manpower of the Pakistan Air Force in 1971, which, although lower than their share in the population (50%), was much higher than the 6% numbers in the Army. Many of them distinguished themselves during the Bangladesh Liberation War; they provided the nascent Bangladesh Air Force with a good number of trained personnel. It had grown with the repatriation of the around 2,000 Air Force personnel from Pakistan in 1973 after the Simla Agreement.

In 1977, some personnel of the Bangladesh Air Force, led by Sergeant Afsar, attempted to stage a coup, which resulted in the deaths of 11 air force officers. After the mutiny was put down by the then provost marshal, Wing Commander M. Hamidullah Khan, President Ziaur Rahman even considered disbanding the Bangladesh Air Force in favour of an army aviation wing. However, this plan did not go ahead. President Ziaur Rahman placed Hamidullah in charge of Command and Communication Control at the old parliamentary building, present day Prime Minister's office. Hamidullah reorganized the forces intelligence to the directorate general level under the authority of the president. Hence DGFI was born.

Defence co-operation improved with Pakistan considerably under the government of Ziaur Rahman and the military regime of Hussain Muhammad Ershad in Bangladesh, which had grown more distant from its wartime ally India. Common concerns over India's regional meddling have influenced strategic co-operation leading to a gift of several squadrons of refurbished Shenyang F-6 fighter aircraft from Pakistan to the Bangladesh Air Force in the late 1980s. Bangladesh bought 8 MiG-29s from Russia in 1999 under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

COVID-19 pandemic operations

The Bangladesh Air Force was active during the COVID-19 pandemic. The BAF provided emergency medevac for many critical COVID-19 patients with their helicopters. BAF also evacuated immigrants and migrant workers, and airlifted tons of relief materials for home and abroad with their C-130B and C-130J cargo aircraft.

Forces Goal 2030

The Bangladesh Air Force has an ambitious modernisation plan to be implemented in upcoming years under Forces Goal 2030. As per the goal, the air force is to be a strong deterrent force to well protect the sky of Bangladesh. Plans are made to strengthen both air power and land based air defence capabilities. Since the formulation of the forces goal 2030, the BAF has developed in many folds.

The Bangladesh Air Force has set up an advanced training unit named the 105 Advance Jet Training Unit which is a dedicated fighter pilot training unit of the BAF. The unit consists of three training squadrons, which will provide advanced training to the pilots selected for operating the fighter jets.

Since 2010, the BAF has taken delivery of sixteen Chengdu F-7BGI fighter aircraft, sixteen Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainers, two C-130J transport aircraft, nine K-8W jet trainer aircraft, three Let L-410 Turbolet transport trainer aircraft, and twenty-three CJ-6 basic trainers. The process is going on for the procurement of sixteen multirole combat aircraft.

The BAF has also taken delivery of 21 Mi-171Sh combat transport helicopters, four AgustaWestland AW139 maritime SAR helicopters, and two AW 119KX training helicopters since 2010. The procurement process for eight attack helicopters is ongoing.

The BAF gained surface-to-air missile capability by introducing FM-90 short-range air defence missiles in 2011. To date, BAF has taken delivery of two regiments of FM-90 systems. The BAF received an Italian long-range Selex RAT-31DL air defence radar in 2019.

Bangladesh has signed a government-to-government contract with the United Kingdom for the supply of two off-the-shelf C-130J aircraft currently in service with the Royal Air Force. In June 2019, another contract was signed for the procurement of an additional three off-the-shelf C-130J aircraft from the UK. As of September 2020, three of the aircraft have been delivered.

On 20 June 2018, the Bangladesh Air Force signed a contract with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) for the procurement of seven K-8 jet training aircraft.

Recruitment of airwomen

For the first time in the history of the BAF, women were recruited as airwomen in 2020. On 25 November 2020, after nine months of training, 64 women passed out from the 'Recruits Training School', which is situated in Shamshernagar (Moulvibazar District), as Aircraftman - II (AC-II), the batch was '48th Entry'.

UN mission deployment

More than 600 BAF personnel, including officers and airmen, and 10 BAF helicopters are currently deployed to various UN missions. Another C-130 transport aircraft is providing support to a UN mission in Africa. With the deployment of C-130 aircraft and its personnel, Bangladesh became the largest troop-contributing country on UN peacekeeping missions.

Chief of Air Staff

The Bangladesh Air Force is headed by an air officer, and he is in the rank of air chief marshal. In 1972, this chief of air staff (COAS) was created (in April 1972), and the first air chief was A. K. Khandker, whose rank was air vice marshal. All air chiefs till Fakhrul Azam (served as air chief from 2002 to 2007) were air vice marshals; Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman was the first air chief who served in this post in the rank of air marshal from 2007 to 2012. Abu Esrar (served as air chief from 2015 to 2018) was the first person who served as air chief in the rank of air chief marshal. Since then, all air chiefs have been air chief marshals.

Organisation

According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, the president of Bangladesh acts as the civilian commander-in-chief, and the Chief of Air Staff (COAS), by statute a four-star air officer (air chief marshal), commands the Air Force. The Bangladesh Air Force is currently commanded by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has its headquarters at Dhaka Cantonment. HQ has 4 branches: Operations & Training (Ops. & Trng.), Administration (Admin.), Maintenance (Mte.), and Plannings (Plans). Each branch is headed by officers who are considered principal staff officer (PSO) and known as assistant chief of air staff, e.g., ACAS (Ops & Trng). Under each PSO, there are various directorates headed by directors of air commodore rank. Under each director, there are deputy directors (DD) headed by group captain and staff officers (SO) with the rank of wing commander and below.

Officers branches

Branches of officers of Bangladesh Air Force are:

General Duties (Pilot), abbreviation: GD(P)

General Duties (Navigator), abbreviation: GD(N)

Engineering

Air Defense Weapons Controlling (ADWC)

Air Traffic control (ATC)

Meteorology

Logistics

Administration

Finance/Accounts

Education

Legal

Medical (officers are seconded from army)

Airmen's trade groups

Trade groups of airmen are as follows:

Squadrons

There are several squadrons in the air force. These not only include flying squadrons, but also engineering and field units.

Rank structure

Installations and bases

The Bangladesh Air Force is organized under centralized Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment, which oversees all operational, training, and support units.

Chief of Air Staff

Personnel Directorate

Operations Directorate

Intelligence Directorate

Logistics Directorate

Engineering & Maintenance Directorate

Training & Education Directorate

Air Defense & Missile Directorate

Air Surveillance & Command Directorate

Planning and Development Directorate

Combat air commands

BAF Base Khademul Bashar, Tejgaon, Dhaka

BAF Base Bir Uttom A. K. Khandker, Kurmitola, Dhaka

BAF Base Birshreshto Matiur Rahman, Jashore

Bangladesh Air Force Academy, Jashore

Basic Flying Training Squadron

Advanced Flying Training Squadron

BAF Base Zahurul Haque, Chattogram

Airmen Training Institute, Chittagong

Airmen Technical Training Squadron

Airmen Non-Commissioned Officer Training Squadron

BAF Base Cox's Bazar

BAF Base Bir Uttam Sultan Mahmud, Tangail

BAF Base Shamshernagar, Maulavibazar

Recruits Training School, Shamshernagar, Moulvibazar

Ground Training Squadron

Technical Training Squadron

BAF Station, Bogura

Flying Instructor School, Bogura

Flight Safety & Evaluation Unit

Air Defense Radar Unit

BAF Station, Barishal

Air Defense Command

Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Unit

Radar & Early Warning Stations

Command & Control Units

Air Logistics Command

Air Transport Squadron (C-130J / An-32)

VIP Transport Squadron (Helicopter / Fixed-wing)

Maintenance & Repair Squadrons

Air Training Command

All training institutes and schools listed above under the respective bases

Air Technical Schools Command:

Aircraft Maintenance School

Electronics and Communication Systems School

Air Engineering School

Air Defense School

Supply & Administration School

Air Transportation School

Air Security School

Ammunition & Demolition School

Operational Preparedness and Officer Development School

Education Administrators and Teachers School

Equipment

Current modernisation effort

The BAF has an ongoing modernisation programme, Forces Goal 2030. To perform its increasing duties and responsibilities, the air force is being divided into two separate commands: Southern and Northern. A new airbase is being set up under Southern Command at Barishal with an emphasis on maritime security. Another airbase is under construction at Sylhet.

Establishment of UAV manufacturing and assembly plant

On 27 January 2026, the Bangladesh Air Force signed a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with the Chinese state-owned company China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) International to establish a domestic Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) manufacturing and assembly plant. The deal, signed at the Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment, includes a comprehensive technology transfer (ToT) component aimed at enhancing Bangladesh's indigenous defence production capabilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties will jointly establish a manufacturing facility to produce and assemble various categories of drones, including Medium Altitude Low Endurance (MALE) UAVs and Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) platforms. The project is designed to reduce the Bangladesh Armed Forces' long-term reliance on imports for unmanned systems. In addition to meeting military requirements for surveillance and defence, the locally produced UAVs are also intended for civilian roles such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Delays in multi-role combat aircraft procurement

On 2 March 2017, the Sheikh Hasina-led government floated a closed tender for eight fighters. The tender issued by the Directorate General of Defence Purchase (DGDP) was controversial from the beginning, as the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party accused the governing Awami League of using Indian funding to buy obsolete aircraft from Russia. The MiG-35 was one of the contenders, along with the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter with European-origin AESA radar. The Bangladesh government allocated almost $400 million for the procurement. Russia has negotiated with Bangladesh for a year for the sale of MiG-35. The Bangladesh government has terminated the tender due to a funding shortage, and for the Su-30 order placement by the Myanmar Air Force in 2018. Italian Elettronica SPA is also unable to work with any Russian company to fulfill Bangladesh's requirements due to international sanctions on Russia. In the third Bangladesh-UK strategic dialogue held in May 2019, the two countries desired to further strengthen the defence ties between them. The United Kingdom expressed its readiness to support Bangladesh with the procurement of high-calibre multi-role combat aircraft alongside other modernisation programmes.

In January 2020, Anisul Huq, the previous minister responsible for defence affairs in the parliament at that time, told the parliament that the process is ongoing to procure 16 multirole combat aircraft, eight attack helicopters, three VVIP helicopters, two air defence radar units, 24 primary trainer aircraft, two light aircraft, one K-8W simulator, four MRAP vehicles, one AW-119 simulator, two counter drone surveillance radar systems, and one mobile ATC tower, and a life extension and upgrade of its MiG-29 aircraft.

In 2021, the Bangladesh Air Force requested the Bangladesh Government to earmark around 25,200-crore taka (2.5 billion euros) for 16 Western-origin multirole fighter jets. In order to sign the agreement and for the first installment council, the Bangladesh Air Force requested the allocation of 6,300-crore taka for the 2021–22 financial year. In 2021, Eurofighter World Magazine reported Bangladesh as a potential customer for the Eurofighter Typhoon. However, even after the announcement, the previous government did not order multirole combat aircraft or attack helicopters in the next three years. The government collapsed, and Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 5 August 2024 due to the July Revolution in Bangladesh.

On 28 October 2024, Bangladesh's new interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's press

Delays in attack helicopter procurement

In October 2019, US officials said Bangladesh requested to purchase advanced military equipment from the United States, including multi-role combat fighters, attack helicopters, and surface-to-air missile systems. The US offered the Bangladesh Air Force two types of attack helicopters, and the BAF opted for the AH-64 Apache. In January 2020, Boeing confirmed that the AH-64E attack helicopter was down-selected by the BAF after a competitive bidding process. Any purchase of AH-64 Apache helicopters depends on Bangladesh and the United States signing Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) and General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) agreements. However, in late December 2021, it was reported that Bangladesh was now finalizing a government-to-government (G2G) deal with Russia to buy 8 Mi-28NEs with the necessary equipment, along with operations and maintenance training. New media reports mentioned that the Bangladesh Air Force is now planning to purchase 6 T129 ATAK attack helicopters from Turkey. A deal worth $600 million is now in process.

Modern radar procurement

On 29 October 2019, the Italian company Leonardo announced that it secured a contract to supply Kronos Land 3D AESA radar systems to the Bangladesh Air Force to provide air surveillance and detect and track targets in tactical environments. The number of radars ordered was not disclosed.

Trainer aircraft procurement

In June 2021, the Bangladesh Air Force revealed an order for 24 Grob G 120TP trainer aircraft. According to Masihuzzaman Serniabat, the previous COAS, the Bangladesh Air Force ordered 24 trainer aircraft from Grob. Under the deal, Grob Aircraft will also install a composite material (fiberglass-reinforced plastic and carbon fibre composites) repair workshop and a propeller repair workshop in Bangladesh.

Transport aircraft procurement

Five ex-RAF 'short-bodied' C-130Js were ordered in two batches in 2018 and 2019 to replace Bangladesh's aging, second-hand C-130Bs. The first aircraft was delivered in August 2019. They will be used to transport troops and equipment both home and abroad, as well as provide humanitarian assistance and support UN peacekeeping missions. The fourth aircraft landed at the Dhaka Airbase in Dhaka on 20 February 2023.

Accidents

7 January 2001: Squadron Leader Mohammad Mohsin died when a Chengdu J-7 trainer jet crashed after a takeoff at 1:35 p.m. from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Due to some malfunctions of the aircraft, the pilot could not manage to eject from the aircraft, but the other pilot, Squadron Leader Reza Emdad Khan, could manage to eject, bringing some injuries.

8 April 2008: Squadron leader Morshed Hasan died when a Chengdu F-7 crashed in Ghatail Upazila of Tangail. The pilot ejected from the aircraft but was critically injured when its parachute malfunctioned. He died at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka after he had been rescued.

20 December 2010: Squadron leaders Ashraf Ibne Ahmed and Mahmudul Haque were killed when two Bangladesh Air Force PT-6 aircraft crashed near Barishal Airport.

8 April 2012: A pilot officer, Shariful Haque, died, and a squadron leader, Muhammad Mamunur Rashid, was injured when an Aero L-39 training aircraft crashed in Madhupur Upazila of Tangail.

26 April 2012: A Bangladesh Air Force PT-6 aircraft on a training mission crash-landed in West Bengal, India. Trainee pilot Rashed Sheikh escaped the aircraft safely with minor injuries. India arranged a safe return of the pilot to Bangladesh.

13 May 2015: A Mi-17 helicopter on a training flight belonging to the Bangladesh Air Force crash-landed at the airport and caught fire. All three people on board sustained major injuries and were hospitalized.

29 June 2015: Flight Lieutenant Tahmid went missing when his F-7MB crashed into the Bay of Bengal. The aircraft took off around 10:27 am from Johurul Haque air base, lost contact with the control room around 11:10 am, and later crashed in the Bay of Bengal in Patenga around 11:30 am.

11 July 2017: A Yak-130 'Mitten' training aircraft crashed at Lohagara in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong District. Two pilots were unharmed.