The outgoing Bangladesh Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Mashiuzzaman Serniabat disclosed during a farewell dinner banquet he signed a deal with a German aircraft manufacturer for acquiring two dozen training aircraft along with transfer of technology.
Grob Aircraft will supply 24 completely built G 120TP aircraft and construct two workshops including a composite material repair workshop and propeller repair workshop. Moreover the agreement with the Bangladesh Air Force includes transfer of computer based training (CBT) simulators.
The ACM Serniabat indicated the Bangladesh Air Force acquired the aircraft for half the price of comparable trainers in the international market. The air force’s top commander claimed the aircraft were purchased for even a cheaper rate than budgeted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting the aviation sector. The actual contract was signed sometime last week according to him.
It will be the first time Bangladesh Air Force will also be capable of maintaining British-made Rolls Royce turboprop engines.
The Air Force Chief stated that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the Defence Minister of Bangladesh will not procure any aircraft without some level of technology transfer. This is part of a greater vision of developing an aerospace industry in Bangladesh that will be capable of supporting Bangladesh’s growing fleet of civil and military aircraft as well as provide maintenance facilities and components for foreign clients all over the world.
Apart from German and British aerospace companies the Bangladesh Air Force is in discussion with companies such as Boeing, Airbus, Dassault Aviation and Eurofighter for acquiring their aircraft, besides other technologies to realise the long term development of Bangladesh’s aerospace industries.
Earlier last year Defseca.com was the first to platform to inform about the acquisition of the German trainer aircraft.
