The visiting Italian Air Force Chief Lieutenant General Alberto Rosso extended an offer to train members of the Bangladesh Air Force in Italy.
The Italian Air Force chief met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the tri-services chiefs during his first official trip to Bangladesh.
Italy wants to train Bangladesh Air Force fighter, helicopter and transport aircraft pilots and crews as both sides are operating same aircraft presently.
The Bangladesh Air Force is purchasing Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role fighter aircraft, which is also operated by the Italian Air Force. It already operates AW139 maritime search and rescue helicopters and AW109 utility/training helicopters.
The process is on to standardise both AW139 helicopters and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters in to the Bangladesh Air Force.
Lt Gen Rosso informed Bangladesh’s premier his visit to Bangladesh was fruitful. Italy has become an important military equipment supplier to the Bangladesh Armed Forces with respect to supply and maintenance of communications equipment, radar systems, anti-ship missiles, helicopters, warships and naval gun systems.
