Bangladesh Air Force pushes ahead with modernisation despite regional pressure

Reading Time: 4 minutes Bangladesh is pressing ahead with the most ambitious transformation in its air force’s history. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has approved a series of major acquisitions, including multirole combat aircraft (MRCA), dedicated attack jets, long-range ground-based air-defence missile systems and new radar networks. Officials suggest the first deliveries could begin within two years, rapidly altering the balance of capabilities in the country’s skies. The urgency stems not only from long-standing operational gaps but also from political controversy. Earlier this year, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, BBP, OSP, GUP, nswc, psc, claimed that a neighbouring country had pressured the Sheikh Hasina government to delay or water down BAF modernisation, especially the MRCA programme. While such allegations are difficult to independently verify, they highlight how sensitive Dhaka’s procurement decisions are in a region where every acquisition is scrutinised