A Bangladesh delegation led by the nation’s top diplomat in Ankara, H.E. Mosud Mannan visited the headquarters of the Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc to further defence cooperation between the two countries earlier today.
Representations of TAI briefed the Bangladeshi Team that included the resident Defence Attaché.
The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) offers a gamut of advanced aircraft systems in its product portfolio that includes notables such as the T-129 attack helicopter, Hurkus trainer aircraft and Anka unmanned aerial vehicles, all of which garnered interest from the Bangladesh Army and Air Force respectively.
TAI has offered Bangladesh a stake in the ongoing TF or Turkish Fighter aircraft project, which is planned to be operation beyond 2030 to replace ageing fighter aircraft.
Several other key projects under development in the Turkish aerospace company includes a 10-ton utility helicopter, multi-role heavy combat helicopter and Hurjet advanced jet trainer aircraft.
The Bangladesh Army has a set requirement for attack helicopters, preferably the T-129, whose poster was displayed at a function suggesting plans are afoot to purchase such helicopters. This was reaffirmed by General (Retd.) Aziz Ahmed, who disclosed the Army Aviation corps would receive attack helicopters as part of its development.
The Bangladesh Air Force may also procure Hurkus trainers to fulfil its ongoing requirement for more advanced turboprop powered trainers after pilots transcend to intermediate/advanced stage of flight training at the Air Force Academy at Jashore.
Anka MALE unmanned aerial vehicles are also said to on a priority list for the air force.
Bangladesh and Turkey are continuously enhancing defence ties in a transparent and celebrated manner. Turkey’s positive role in the Rohingya influx issue has helped it become a trusted friend of Bangladesh. Companies such as ROKETSAN, ASELSAN and Otokar has received multi-million orders from the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
The Bangladesh Ordnance Factories (BOF) has also recently signed a transfer of technology contract with REPKON to manufacture casings for medium and heavy calibre artillery shells and munitions using advanced manufacturing techniques.
