Transitioning the Bangladesh Air Force Away from Russian Aircraft

Reading Time: 3 minutes For decades, the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has relied on a diverse mix of aircraft sourced from Russia, China, the United States and Europe. Among these, Russian-built platforms such as the MiG-29 fighter, Yak-130 trainer, Mi-17/171 helicopters and Antonov An-32 transports once formed the backbone of combat and support aviation. These types offered ruggedness, familiarity and cost-effectiveness in an earlier era, but the landscape has now shifted. Sanctions, supply-chain breakdowns, and a global decline in Russian aerospace exports have created chronic shortages of spare parts, rising maintenance costs, and dwindling availability. For Dhaka, the strategic choice is clear: a complete transition away from Russian aircraft is no longer optional but essential. The MiG-29, once the pride of the BAF fighter fleet, remains a capable dogfighter but is technologically outclassed in an era defined by multirole capabilities, beyond-visual-range missiles and networked warfare. Replacing it requires careful balance