BANGLADESH AIR FORCE (BAF)

BANGLADESH AIR FORCE (BAF)

BANGLADESH AIR FORCE (BAF) • Bangladesh Biman Bahini
Air Force 14,000 personnel. Forces Goal 2030 modernization plan is currently under way. Flying hours 17,000+ flying hrs/year

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type

• AIRCRAFT 88 combat capable.

Fighter & Fighter Ground Attack with 41 Ftr ac:

• 35 Chengdu F-7 Airguard (including MB, BG, and BGI variants);
• 6 Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum;

Transport with 16 Tpt ac:

• 5 Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules;
• 3 Lockheed Martin C-130B Hercules;
• 3 Antonov An-32 Cline;
• 3 Let L-410UVP;
• 2 Airbus C295W;

Training with 82 Trg ac:

• 23 Grob G 120TP;
• 14 AVIC K-8W Karakorum;
• 13 Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten;
• 12 Chengdu FT-7 Airguard;
• 9 Shenyang FT-6;
• 7 Aero L-39ZA Albatros;
• 2 Mikoyan MiG-29UB Fulcrum B;
• 2 Grob G 115;
• (Note: BAF also operates an extensive fleet of 30+ Nanchang PT-6 primary trainers);

• HELICOPTER Total 53–59 Helicopters.

Multi-Role & Transport (Helicopters) with 53 hel:

• 35 Mil Mi-17/171 Hip;
• 14 Bell 212;
• 4 AgustaWestland AW139 (Search & Rescue);

Training (Helicopters) with 8 hel:

• 6 Bell 206 Jet Ranger;
• 2 AgustaWestland AW119 Koala;

Air Defence

• SAM (Short-range): FM-90 (CH-SA-4);
• SAM (Point-defence): FN-16 (CH-SA-14); QW-2 (CH-SA-8);
• Guns (Towed): 174 total assets; 35mm GDF-009 (with Skyguard-3); 37mm Type-65/74; 57mm Type-59 (S-60);

Armament

• Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM): R-73 (AA-11 Archer); R-27R (AA-10 Alamo); PL-5; PL-7;
  
  

Jessore houses the transport squadrons, the Air Force Academy and the Flying Training Wing. Bogra houses the flying instructors’ school; Chittagong has a combat training/light attack squadron plus a helicopter squadron.

Note: By 2026, the Bangladesh Air Force has significantly improved its strategic airlift and tactical transport capabilities through the induction of the C-130J and C295W fleets. While the combat fleet continues to rely on upgraded F-7 and MiG-29 platforms, the service has prioritized pilot training with the full integration of the Yak-130 and G 120TP systems. Separate aviation wings are also maintained by the Bangladesh Army (operating C295, Mi-171, and Black Panther helicopters) and the Bangladesh Navy (operating Do-228NG MPA and AW109 helicopters).