The Government of Bangladesh, under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has initiated various steps to modernize the Bangladesh Air Force.
One significant move is the induction of five US-origin C-130J aircraft from the United Kingdom through a government-to-government agreement.
The process of integrating the C-130J aircraft into the BAF is ongoing through direct procurement and maintenance agreements with the Royal Air Force and Marshal Aerospace and Defence Group of the UK, according to an ISPR press release on Thursday.
The fifth C-130J aircraft successfully arrived at BAF Base Bangabandhu on Thursday evening, following a ferry mission from the UK conducted by a Bangladesh Air Force crew. The mission was led by Air Commodore Syed Fakruddin Masud. During the ferry flight, the aircraft made transit stops in Antalya (Turkey) and Muscat (Oman).
The aircraft was received with traditional Air Force honors at Bangabandhu Air Base. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, and British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, attended the reception, along with senior officers from the Bangladesh Air Force and Armed Forces Division. The Directorate of Overseas Air Operation of the BAF managed the entire ferry mission operation.
The C-130J aircraft, equipped with modern avionics and sophisticated technology, will be used for transporting materials and personnel, providing humanitarian assistance domestically and internationally, and supporting United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.
The inclusion of this advanced C-130J aircraft is expected to significantly enhance the global reach and operational capability of the Bangladesh Air Force.
