Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, BBP, OSP, GUP, ndc, psc, returned to Dhaka on Monday, 6 October 2025, following a highly productive official visit to the Republic of Türkiye.
The five-day visit, conducted from 1–5 October 2025 at the invitation of the Commander of the Turkish Air Force, focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, advancing air defence modernisation, and exploring defence-industrial partnerships between the two nations.
During the visit, the Air Chief held a series of high-level meetings with the Commander of the Turkish Air Force, senior officials of the Turkish General Staff, and the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB). The delegation also visited the Turkish Air Force Headquarters and several leading defence manufacturers including Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), ASELSAN, and Baykar Technology.
At ASELSAN, the BAF delegation received a demonstration of the ALP 300-G next-generation S-Band long-range radar, a highly mobile early-warning system currently under consideration by the Bangladesh Air Force for strengthening its national air defence network.
The Air Force delegation also expressed interest in the extended-range variant of the Siper Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LRSAM) system, jointly developed by ASELSAN and Roketsan. The system, designed to intercept multiple aerial threats—including aircraft, cruise missiles, and UAVs—at ranges of up to 100 kilometres, is being evaluated as a candidate for Bangladesh’s integrated air defence modernisation programme.
At Baykar Technology, discussions centred on the acquisition and co-production of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), including the Bayraktar Akıncı HALE UAV. With the Bangladesh Army already operating the Bayraktar TB2, the Bangladesh Air Force’s potential procurement of the Akıncı would represent a significant step toward establishing a multi-tiered unmanned capability across the services.
Türkiye has also expressed strong interest in establishing joint defence industrial ventures in Bangladesh, focusing on technology transfer, local assembly, and advanced training programmes for Bangladeshi personnel. Under SSB’s guidance, Turkish companies have offered collaboration opportunities aimed at developing Bangladesh’s indigenous defence manufacturing base.
The Bangladesh Air Force is pursuing plans to locally produce radar systems, defence electronics, aerial munitions, various types of aircraft, and essential military consumables with support from partner nations such as Türkiye. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance self-reliance, strengthen operational sustainability, and build a resilient national defence-industrial ecosystem.
The Air Chief’s discussions also covered training exchanges, logistics and maintenance cooperation, and joint R&D initiatives, signalling the beginning of a deeper strategic partnership between Dhaka and Ankara.
This landmark visit is expected to result in tangible progress on air defence modernisation, missile acquisition, and joint industrial collaboration, further cementing the robust defence ties between Bangladesh and Türkiye.
Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan departed Dhaka on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, to undertake the official visit at the invitation of the Commander of the Turkish Air Force.
Amit Bhattacharya is a leading defence procurement expert with deep expertise in modern weapon systems and military hardware acquisition. Over more than a decade, he has collaborated with top defence contractors and strategic research institutions, delivering incisive analysis on procurement frameworks, capability development, and technology integration for armed forces worldwide. Amit bridges the gap between operational requirements and industrial capacity, providing authoritative evaluations of modernisation programmes, defence budgets, and acquisition reforms in both established and emerging defence markets. He leads the Defence Procurement and Defence Industry sections at BDMilitary, shaping strategic discourse on defence innovation. Amit earned his Master of Policy and Governance (MPAG) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, complementing his practical expertise with advanced policy and governance insight.
