Bangladesh Naval Aviation

Bangladesh Naval Aviation (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ নেভাল এভিয়েশন; Bangladesh Nebhala Ebhiẏesana) is the Aviation wing of Bangladesh Navy. The unit started its journey on 14 July 2011 making the Bangladesh Navy a two-dimensional force.

Bangladesh Naval Aviation
বাংলাদেশ নেভাল এভিয়েশন
Bangladesh Navy crest
Active14 July 2011 – present
Country Bangladesh
BranchBangladesh Navy
TypeNaval aviation
HeadquartersNaval Headquarter (NHQ), Banani, Dhaka
DecorationsSee Medals of the Bangladesh Armed Forces
Commanders
Commodore Naval Aviation(COMNAV)Rear Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
HelicopterAgustaWestland AW109
PatrolDornier 228 NG

History
Dornier Do-228 MPA of Bangladesh Navy

The Bangladesh Navy started its journey during the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. At that time navy was a force equipped with surface ships only. Coming in the new millennium, the Bangladesh Navy started to feel the necessity if being a three-dimensional force equipped with submarines and aircraft. It was the year of 2009 when the first two aircraft were ordered for the navy. The aircraft were two AgustaWestland AW109 search and rescue helicopters. The naval aviation formally started its journey on 14 July 2011 with the induction of the helicopters. Two Dornier Do 228NG maritime patrol aircraft joined the service in 2013.[1][2] After the formulation of the Forces Goal 2030 in 2010, the development of the naval aviation is going on in accordance with the goal.

Bangladesh Naval Aviation joined in the search operation of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 with a Dornier Do-228NG MPA in March 2014. The search was renewed in May 2014 when an Australian exploration company claimed to have traced aircraft debris in the Bay of Bengal.[3]

Markings

Bangladesh Navy aircraft uses green and red roundels keeping similarity with the flag of Bangladesh. The naval ensign is placed at the tail of the aircraft. The service titles BANGLADESH NAVY appear on the port side in English and starboard side in Bangla script.

Air bases

Currently naval aviation operates from her own hangar situated beside the Shah Amanat International Airport at Chattogram.[4]

Inventory
An AW109 helicopter of Bangladesh Navy
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Maritime Patrol
Dornier Do 228 Germany patrol / surveillance 2 2 on order[5]
Helicopters
AgustaWestland AW109 Italy utility / SAR 2[5]
AgustaWestland AW159 Italy ASW 2 on order[6]
Harbin Z-9 China SAR 2 on order[5]

Future modernization plans

Two Dornier Do 228NG aircraft were ordered in 2017. These two aircraft will be equipped with Seaspray 5000E AESA radar.[7]

BN has issued two tenders for the procurement of four helicopters with anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface vessel warfare (ASuW), over-the-horizon targeting (OTHT), maritime search and rescue (MSAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and special mission capabilities.[8][9]

In December 2019, the prime minister discussed about the past, present and future development programs for the Bangladesh Navy at the winter passing out parade of the Bangladesh Naval Academy. She told that, there is a plan to induct more maritime patrol aircraft, anti-submarine warfare helicopters and long range MPA in the near future.[10]

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See also

References
  1. "BN History". Bangladesh Navy. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  2. "Inauguration of Naval Aviation" (PDF) (in Bengali). Prime Minister Office. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. "Navy scouring Bay of Bengal again for MH370 after GeoResonance claim". bdnews24.com. 30 April 2014.
  4. "Aviation hangar inaugurated in Ctg". The Independent. Dhaka. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  5. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  6. "Bangladesh Navy's new Dornier 228 multirole aircraft will feature Leonardo AESA radars". Naval Today. 12 September 2017.
  7. "Leonardo to supply AESA radars for Bangladesh Navy's new Dornier 228 multirole aircraft". Jane's 360. 13 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  8. "Bangladesh Navy issues new helicopter tender". IHS Jane's 360. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  9. "Tender Specification of Helicopters" (PDF). Directorate General Defence Purchase. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  10. "Honourable Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina Reviewed the Winter President Parade at Bangladesh Neval Academy(BNS), Chottagram". Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (in Bengali). 22 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
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