Bangladesh Air Force Seeks Advanced Western VVIP Helicopters: A Technical and Strategic Evaluation

Reading Time: 4 minutes The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has initiated a high-profile procurement effort to replace its ageing fleet of Mi-171V5 and Mi-171E VVIP helicopters with three new Western-origin platforms. This tender, released in September 2025, marks a pivotal shift in Bangladesh’s defence aviation posture—one that emphasises safety, advanced avionics, and operational reliability for national leadership transport. The acquisition is part of the broader Forces Goal 2030 modernisation programme, underscoring Bangladesh’s continued move away from legacy Soviet and Russian systems toward Western-standard interoperability. Operational Context and Rationale For over a decade, the Mi-171 series has served as the backbone of the BAF’s VVIP rotary transport operations. These platforms, derived from the proven Mi-8/17 lineage, have offered solid range and lift capacity but have become increasingly difficult to sustain due to spare parts shortages, sanctions-related supply constraints, and limitations in mission flexibility. The current Mi-171V5 and Mi-171E helicopters provide a