Bangladesh Air Force Seeks to Replace Ageing An-32 Fleet with Western Alternatives

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) is reportedly seeking to phase out its ageing fleet of Antonov An-32 transport aircraft, signalling a broader strategic shift away from dependence on post-Soviet platforms towards modern Western systems with better reliability, interoperability, and long-term support. Ageing Fleet Facing Sustainment Challenges The BAF’s An-32B fleet, acquired in the early 1990s, has served as a dependable medium tactical transport platform for over three decades. The aircraft were subject to a series of mid-life upgrades (MLU) in Ukraine in recent years, focusing on avionics modernisation, engine overhauls, and structural life extension. Despite these efforts, maintaining operational readiness has become increasingly difficult. The ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted the supply of spare parts and technical support, leaving operators like Bangladesh with dwindling options for maintenance and sustainment. Several aircraft are now believed to be operating under limited flight hours due to component shortages.