Virtual Bangladesh : Defense : Airforce

Bangladesh Air Force Mig-29

The Bangladesh Air Force was officially constitutef in 1972 after Bangladesh's War of Independence. It started with a few left over aircrafts and equipments of the Pakistan Air Force (mostly F-86 Sabres) augmented by other donated equipment from India (C-47 Dakotas, DHC-3s and Aloutte Helicopters). In spite of the lack of equipment, the nascent Bangladesh Air Force had a good number of well-trained pilots who were in the Pakistan Air Force and had distinguished themsleves in combat.

Currently the Air Force is mostly equipped with Chinese Air Craft - A-5s and F-7s. It has recently acquired some Mig-29s from Russia.

There are 3 airbases:

Bashar AB (Kurmitola and Tejgaon) near the capital Dhaka.
Zahurul Haque AB in Chittagong.
Matiur Rahman AB at Jessore.

Current personnel strength is around 9800 and their are 12 operational squadrons.

2 X Squardrons of F-7MB fighters.
1X Squadron of FT-6/A-5IIIA fighter-bombers.
1X Squadron of Mig-29 muti-role fighters.
1X Squadron of L-39 ZA light combat aircraft.
1X Squadron of T-37 Jet Trainer aircraft.
1X Squadron of PT-6 Basic Trainer aircraft.
1X Squadron of An-32 transport aircraft.
1X Squadron of C-130/Mi-17/Bell-212 for VIP/VVIP flying.
1X Squadron of Bell-212 helicopter.
1 X Squadron of Mi-17 helicopter.
1X Squadron of Bell-206 helicopter.

In addition BAF has contingents deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo and East Timor with Mi-17 and Bell-212 helicopters respectively.