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The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, romanized: Bangladesh Biman Bahini) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The air force is primarily responsible for air defence of Bangladesh's sovereign territory as well as providing air support to the Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy. Furthermore, the BAF has a territorial role in providing tactical and strategic air transport and logistics capability for the country.
Since its establishment on 28 September 1971, the Bangladesh Air Force has been involved in various combat and humanitarian operations, from the Bangladesh Liberation War in which it was born, to supporting international efforts including United Nations peacekeeping missions. Operation Kilo Flight was a famous operation conducted by the Bangladesh Air Force during the Bangladesh Liberation War.
History
Foundation
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The Bangladesh Air Force was officially formed on 28 September 1971 consisting of the revolting Bengali officers and airmen of the Pakistan Air Force at Dimapur Airport in the Indian state of Nagaland[8] and it was launched formally by flying three repaired vintage aircraft on 8 October 1971.[9] BAF's initial personnel were around a 1000 Bengali members of the Pakistan Air Force who were stationed in East Pakistan at the outbreak of the war and who deserted to the Bangladeshi side.[9] At that time, the embryo of Bangladesh Air Force BAF was formed with less than a hundred officers and around 900 airmen and warrant officers. These numbers were gradually strengthened by the slow but steady defection from among the around 3000 Bengali officers and airmen stationed and grounded in West Pakistan. By the first week of December a total of 700 Bengali officers and airmen had defected from the Western border. A significant number of BAF personnel participated in the Ground Warfare roles in the Bangladesh War of Independence.[10] During the independence war, initially, officers of the BAF attached to the then Bangladesh Government were Chief Representative to Chakulia Guerrilla Training Camp Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, Group Captain A. K. Khandekar, DCOS Army(Liaison) later Sub-Sector Commander and as Commander - Sector 11, Flight Lieutenant Liaqat as Battalion Adjutant, Flying Officer Rouf, Flying Officer Ashraf and Flight Sergeant Shafiqullah as company commanders. Squadron Leader Sadruddin Hossain, Squadron Leader Wahidur Rahim, Squadron Leader Nurul Qader, Squadron Leader Shamsur Rahman and Squadron Leader Ataur Rahman as sub sector company commanders. Squadron Leader Khademul Bashar participated in the war as Commander-Sector 6.[11]
Indian civilian authorities and the IAF donated 1 DC-3 Dakota (gifted by the Maharaja of Jodhpor), 1 Twin Otter plane, and 1 Alouette III helicopter for the newborn Bangladesh Air Force.[12][8] The Bengali rank and file fixed up the World War II vintage runway at Dimapur Airport, then began rigging the aircraft for combat duty. The Dakota was modified to carry 500 pound bombs, but for technical reasons it was only used to ferry Bangladesh government personnel. The Alouette III helicopter was rigged to fire 14 rockets from pylons attached to its side and had .303 Browning machine guns installed, in addition to having 1-inch (25 mm) steel plate welded to its floor for extra protection. The Twin Otter boasted 7 rockets under each of its wings and could deliver ten 25 pound bombs, which were rolled out of the aircraft by hand through a makeshift door. This tiny force was dubbed Kilo Flight, the first fighting formation of the nascent Bangladesh Air Force. Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud was appointed as the commander of the 'Kilo Flight'.[13][14]
Bangladesh Air Force first went in action on 3 December 1971 and attacked the Chattogram-based Oil tank depot and oil tank depot was totally destroyed by that air attack. The Air attack was conducted by Capt. Akram Ahmed.[15] The second Bangladesh Air Force attack was on 6 December 1971 at Moulvibazar Pakistani Army barracks under the command of Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud, where Captain Shahabuddin Ahmed was co-pilot.[15]
After the surrender of Pakistan, all personnel reported to Bangladesh Forces commander-in-chief, Col. M. A. G. Osmani. On 7 April 1972, the post of the chief of air staff went into effect by order of the President of Bangladesh. The combined command of Bangladesh Forces had been abolished with effect from 7 April 1972 and replaced by three separate commands for the three services with acting chiefs of staff. The Bangladesh Air Force gradually began to reoccupy the reform all the airbase structures throughout the country, HQ administrative buildings, fuel and weapons depots.[16]
After independence
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After independence, in November–December 1972 the BAF received a significant donation from the former USSR. Among the aircraft delivered were ten single-seat Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21MFs, two twin-seat Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21UMs, and twelve Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters. Later China also supplied some equipment.[12]
Apart from the aircraft of Kilo Flight which were donated by India, most Pakistan Air Force aircraft grounded in Dhaka due to runway cratering by the Indian Air Force during the liberation war, were sabotaged before surrender. Of these, four Canadair Sabres were also returned to service by Bangladeshi ground technicians in 1972. The Pakistan Air Force prior to 1971 had many Bengali pilots, air traffic controllers, technicians and administrative officers and the general Bengali representation in the Pakistan Air Force was around 15% (and 18% in the officer ranks) of the 25,000 odd manpower of the Pakistan Air Force in 1971, which although lower than their share in the population (50%) was much higher than the 6% numbers in the Army. Many of them distinguished themselves during the Bangladesh Liberation War, they provided the nascent Bangladesh Air Force with a good number of trained personnel. It had grown with the repatriation of the around 2000 Air Force personnel from Pakistan in 1973 after the Simla Agreement.[9]
In 1977 some personnel of Bangladesh Air Force, led by Sergeant Afsar,[17] attempted to stage a coup, which resulted in the deaths of 11 air force officers.[18] After the mutiny was put down by the then Provost marshal Wing Commander M. Hamidullah Khan, TJ, SH, BP, President Ziaur Rahman even considered disbanding the Bangladesh Air Force, in favour of an army aviation wing.[18] However, this plan did not go ahead. President Ziaur Rahman placed Hamidullah in charge of Command and Communication Control at the old Parliamentary building, present day Prime Minister's office. Hamidullah reorganized the Forces intelligence to directorate general level under the authority of the President. Hence the DGFI was born.
Defence co-operation improved with Pakistan considerably under the government of Ziaur Rahman and the military regime of Hossain Mohammad Ershad in Bangladesh, which had grown more distant from its war ally, India. Common concerns over India's regional meddling have influenced strategic co-operation leading to a gift of several squadrons of refurbished Shenyang F-6 fighter aircraft from Pakistan to the Bangladesh Air Force in the late 1980s.[12] Bangladesh bought 8 Mig-29 from Russia in 1999 under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[19] Bangladesh Air Force Academy (BAFA) received National colours in 2003 by the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The Recruits' Training School (RTS) has been awarded with BAF Colours by ex-Chief of Air Staff (AVM Fakhrul Azam) in 2004. In 2017 Bangladesh Air Force was awarded the Independence Day Award.[20]
COVID-19 pandemic operations
Bangladesh Air Force was very active during COVID-19 pandemic. BAF provided emergency Medivac for many critical COVID-19 patients by their helicopters. BAF also evacuated immigrants, migrants workers and airlifted tons of relief materials for home and abroad by their C-130B and C-130J cargo aircraft.[21][22]
Forces Goal 2030
The Bangladesh Air Force has an ambitious modernisation plan to be implemented in upcoming years under Forces Goal 2030. As per the goal, air force is to be a strong deterrent force to well protect the sky of Bangladesh. Plans are made to strengthen both air power and land based air defence capabilities. Since the formulation of the forces goal 2030, the BAF has developed in many folds.[23]
The Bangladesh Air Force has set up an advanced training unit named 105 Advance Jet Training Unit which is a dedicated fighter pilot training unit of BAF. The unit consists of three training squadrons which will provide advanced training to the pilots selected for operating the fighter jets.[24]
Since 2010, BAF has taken the delivery of sixteen Chengdu F-7BGI fighter aircraft, sixteen Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced jet trainers, two C-130J transport aircraft,[citation needed] nine K-8W jet trainer aircraft, three Let L-410 Turbolet transport trainer aircraft[25] and twenty three CJ-6 basic trainers.[26] Process is going on for the procurement of sixteen multirole combat aircraft.[27]
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BAF has also taken the delivery of 21 Mi-171Sh combat transport helicopters, four AgustaWestland AW139 maritime SAR helicopters and two AW 119KX training helicopters since 2010. Procurement process of eight attack helicopters is going on.[27]
BAF earned the Surface to Air Missile capability by introducing FM-90 short range air defence missile in 2011.[28][unreliable source?] Till date, BAF Has taken the delivery of two regiments of FM-90 systems. Bangladesh air force received an Italian origin long range Selex RAT-31DL air defence radar in 2019.[29]
Bangladesh has signed a government to government contract with the United Kingdom for the supply of two off-the-shelf C-130J aircraft currently in service with the Royal Air Force.[30] In June 2019, another contract was signed for the procurement of additional three off-the-shelf C-130J aircraft from UK.[31] As of September 2020, three of the aircraft have been delivered.[32]
On 20 June 2018, the Bangladesh Air Force signed a contract with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) for the procurement of seven K-8 jet training aircraft.[33][34] On 15 October 2020 BAF received those seven procured K-8 jet training aircraft.[35]
UN mission deployment
More than 600+ BAF personnel, including officers and airmen, 10 BAF helicopters and are currently deployed to various UN Missions. Another C-130 transport aircraft is providing support to UN Mission in Africa. With the deployment of C-130 aircraft and its personnel, Bangladesh became the largest troops contributing country in UN peacekeeping missions.[36]
Women
On 25 November 2020, 64 female recruits completed airmens recruit training in Recruits Training School, Shamshernagar; this was the first time that the air force took females as airwomen.[37] As officers, women can join since the early 2000s but women were not allowed to become pilots till 2014, in 2014 two females received pilots training. Now female pilots of BAF have flown Mi-17s, Bell-206s, L-410s and recently C-130Js.[38]
List of the Chiefs of Air Staff
Organisation
According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, President of Bangladesh act as the civilian commander-in-chief, and Chief of Air Staff (COAS), by statute a four-star air officer (air chief marshal),[39] commands the Air Force.[40][41][42] The Bangladesh Air Force is currently commanded by Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan.[43][44][7] The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has its headquarters at Dhaka Cantonment. HQ has 4 branches, Operations & Training (Ops. & Trng.), Administration (Admin.), Maintenance (Mte.) and Plannings (Plans).[45] Each branch is headed by officers who are considered as principal staff officer (PSO) and known as assistant chief of air staff, e.g. ACAS (Ops & Trng). Under each PSO there are various directorates headed by directors of air commodore rank. Under each director there are deputy directors (DD) headed by group captain and staff officers (SO) with the rank of wing commander and below.[citation needed]
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Senior commanders
| Shoulder | Appointment | Rank & Name | Star Plate |
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Chief of Air Staff | Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, OSP, GUP, nswc, psc, GD(P)- No 11 GD(P) |  |
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Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) | Air Vice Marshal AHM Fazlul Haque, BSP, ndu, afwc, psc, GD(P) |  |
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Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Administration) | Air Vice Marshal Md. Zahidur Rahman, BSP, GUP, nswc, psc, GD(P) - No 12 GD(P) | |
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Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Planning) | Air Vice Marshal | |
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Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Maintenance) | Air Vice Marshal Md. Zahidul Sayeed, BUP, ndc, psc, Engineering - 24 Non GD | |
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Air Officer Commanding, BAF Base Khademul Bashar (Dhaka) | Air Vice Marshal Sharif Uddin Sarkar, GUP, ndc, afwc, psc, GD(P) - No 15 GD(P) | |
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Air Officer Commanding, BAF Base Bangabandhu (Dhaka) | Air Vice Marshal MA Awal Hossain, GUP, nswc, psc, GD(P)- No 15 GD(P) | |
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Air Officer Commanding, BAF Base Zahurul Haq (Chittagong) | Air Vice Marshal Badrul Amin, GUP, ndc, afwc, psc, GD(P) - No 15 GD(P) | |
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Air Officer Commanding, BAF Base Matiur Rahman (Jessore) | Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, GUP, ndc, psc | |
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Air Officer Commanding, BAF Base Bir Uttam Sultan Mahmud (Tangail) | Air Commodore Qazi Mazharul Karim |  |
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Air Officer Commanding, BAF Base Sheikh Hasina (Cox's Bazar) | Air Vice Marshal | |
Branches (officer)
Branches of officers of Bangladesh Air Force are:
- General Duties (Pilot), abbreviation: GD(P)
- General Duties (Navigator), abbreviation: GD(N)
- Engineering
- Air Defense Weapons Controlling (ADWC)
- Air Traffic control (ATC)
- Meteorology
- Logistics
- Administration
- Finance/Accounts
- Education
- Legal
- Medical (officers are seconded from army)
Trade groups (airmen)
Trade Groups of airmen are:[46]
- Aircraft Engineering
- Electrical and Instrument Engineering
- General Engineering
- Mechanical Transport Engineering
- IT Assistant
- Armament Engineering
- Radio Engineering
- Ground Signalling
- Radar Operator
- Air Traffic Controlling Assistant
- Education
- Cypher
- Meteorological Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Secretarial Assistant (General Duties)
- Secretarial Assistant (Accounts)
- Logistics Assistant
- Ground Combatant (GC)
- Provost
- Administrative Assistant
- Musician
- Aircrew
Rank structure
Officers
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Bangladesh Air Force[47] |
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| এয়ার চিফ মার্শাল Ēẏār chiph mārśāl |
এয়ার মার্শাল Ēẏār mārśāl |
এয়ার ভাইস মার্শাল Ēẏār bhā'is mārśāl |
এয়ার কমোডোর Ēẏār kômōḍōr |
গ্রুপ ক্যাপ্টেন Grup kaepṭēn |
উইং কমান্ডার U'iṁ kômānḍār |
স্কোয়াড্রন লীডার Skōẏāḍran līḍār |
ফ্লাইট লেফটেন্যান্ট Phlā'iṭ lēphṭēnānṭ |
ফ্লাইং অফিসার Phlā'iṁ ôphisār |
পাইলট অফিসার Pā'ilôṭ Ôphisār |
অফিসার ক্যাডেট Ôphisār kaeḍēṭ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Airmen
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Bangladesh Air Force[48] |
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No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| মাস্টার ওয়ারেন্ট অফিসার Māsṭāra ōẏārēnṭa aphisāra |
সিনিয়র ওয়ারেন্ট অফিসার Siniẏara ōẏārēnṭa aphisāra |
ওয়ারেন্ট অফিসার Ōẏārēnṭa aphisāra |
সার্জেন্ট Sārjēnṭa |
কর্পোর্যাল Karpōrayāla |
লীডিং এয়ারক্র্যাফটম্যান Līḍiṁ ēẏārakryāphaṭamyāna |
এয়ারক্র্যাফটম্যান-১ Ēẏārakryāphaṭamyāna-1 |
এয়ারক্র্যাফটম্যান-২ Ēẏārakryāphaṭamyāna-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Installations and bases
- Bangladesh Air Force Academy, Jessore[49]
- Recruits Training School, Shamshernagar, Moulvibazar[50]
- Airmen Training Institute, Chattogram[51]
- Flying Instructor's School, Bogra[52]
- BAF Base Khademul Bashar,Dhaka
- BAF Base Bangabandhu,Kurmitola
- BAF Base Birshreshto Matiur Rahman,Jessore
- BAF Base Zahurul Haque, Chottogram
- BAF Base Cox’s Bazar
- BAF Base Bir Uttam Sultan Mahmud, Tangail
- BAF Base Shamshernagar,Sylhet (Recommended)
- BAF Base Barisal,(Recommended)
Equipment
Aircraft
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