Bangladesh navy to get 2 submarines

[cobra commando]

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government had moved to purchase two submarines and a coast guard cutter for Bangladesh Navy to modernise and strengthen the force.

"Activities are going on to purchase two submarines from a friendly country," she told parliament while replying to a lawmaker's scripted query on her government's efforts to modernise the navy, army and air force.

Hasina, however, did not mention the name of the country friendly to Bangladesh and the timeframe for completing the purchase.

The coast guard cutter will be purchased from the USA, she said.

According to a report prepared by the navy in early 2009, the force has planned to introduce an aviation wing and a submarine to its fleet to obtain capability of a three-dimensional force.

The force has already taken steps to build infrastructure and train up its personnel, said the report sent to the armed forces division, a wing under the prime minister's office.

In her scripted answer, the premier said her government has already purchased missile, torpedo for destroying ship and submarine, depth charge, rocket launcher, canon, radar and other weapons for the navy.

Earlier on June 13 last year, Planning Minister AK Khandker, who is in charge of the defence ministry in the parliamentary affairs, told parliament that the government has moved to purchase two off-the-shelf [readymade] frigates, two large patrol crafts, two maritime patrol aircrafts and five patrol crafts for the navy.

In scripted answer to the query, the premier also described her government's various measures to modernise and strengthen the army and air force.

She said two new army commands and an infantry division, two air defence brigades, more than one armoured, artillery and engineering battalions and other necessary supportive units will be added to the army to strengthen the force as part of implementation of the forces goal-2030.

The forces goal will be implemented in four phases in light of the defence policy formulated by the then Bangabandhu-led government in 1974, Hasina told the House.

Besides, she said, the government has moved to purchase fourth generation MBT-2000 tanks, multi-launcher rocket system, weapon locating radar, automatic grenade launcher, anti-tank weapon, non-guided anti-tank weapon, anti-tank guided missiles etc for the army.

"The activities will begin this financial year to buy multiple rocket launch system, weapon locating radar, ground surveillance radar and aircrafts carrying soldiers," said Hasina, who also holds the defence portfolio.

She also mentioned that a process was underway to purchase modern euro-copter, light fixed-wing aircraft and armoured and anti-air weapons for the army.

"As part of expansion of the army and its modernisation, efforts are under way to establish an air defence regiment," she added.

To modernise the air force under the forces goal-2030, she said her government has moved to buy air defence radar, fighter planes, air-to-air missiles, etc.

Hasina also informed the House about some other defence purchases already done for the armed forces.

Navy to get 2 submarines

 

[Yusuf]

Used Chini subs I guess. Why dies BD need a sub? Against which navy? Surely not India against which it stands no chance.

 

[gokussj9]

Used Chini subs I guess. Why dies BD need a sub? Against which navy? Surely not India against which it stands no chance.

They need it for sneaking in to India through water route.

 

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

Indian Navy concerned over Bangladesh's decision to buy two submarines from China

KOLKATA: India is concerned with Bangladesh's decision to order two submarines from China. There are also indications that Chinese submarines have been sneaking into Indian territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal undetected. These developments have led to the Eastern Naval Command seeking more presence in the Bay of Bengal region.

"Why would Bangladesh need submarines? This decision by the government there and the ongoing strife in the country is a matter of concern for us. We also suspect that Chinese submarines are sneaking into Indian territorial waters in the Bay of Bengal region, though none has been detected as yet. This is reason enough for greater naval presence in the region. At the moment, India isn't really prepared for any conflict in the Bay of Bengal region near West Bengal due to the lack of adequate infrastructure," a senior Navy officer said.

Several measures have been proposed by the Navy in Bengal to improve the situation. While acquisition of land at Sagar Island for a missile battery is in its final stage, the ministry of defence has decided to bear part of the cost for setting up of the deep-draughted port there. This will allow naval ships to dock there and pick up supplies for patrolling the Bay of Bengal. The Navy is also going ahead with its plans for setting up an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) base at the Behala airfield.

"The Sagar port is of great strategic importance. As per the RITES report, there is a funding gap of nearly Rs 3,500 crore. There will be the need to base land-to-ship and surface-to-air missiles at Sagar. Apart from this, there will be need for a communications centre and radar station. During a conflict situation, an examination anchorage will be required to inspect vessels in the vicinity. This has to be within missile range. There will also be the need for storage space for rations and ammunition for ships. The infrastructure will be in place soon. Gradually, we plan to bring in moving missile coastal batteries (missiles mounted on trucks). If required, new missiles will be acquired. The MoD is ready to pump in funds for the port in Sagar as this will be crucial in the scheme of things. The Kolkata Port Trust has asked RITES to prepare a fresh financial report based on our offer," said Commodore Ravi Ahluwalia, naval officer in charge, West Bengal.

The Navy doesn't believe that the floating border outposts maintained by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the Sundarbans aren't adequate to prevent any sea-bound threat to the country. The NOIC believes that anti-national elements will target that area once security is tightened along the porous land orders. The UAVs will be crucial to check this.

"We are still working on land acquisition at the Behala airfield for the UAV base. We only require between 15-18 acres there for the base. The UAVs would take off from there and then their control would be handed over to a base in Sagar. The land that has been offered to us isn't quite satisfactory as there are some encroachments and the boundary isn't clearly demarcated," Commodore Ahluwalia said.

Indian Navy concerned over Bangladesh's decision to buy two submarines from China - The Times of India

 

[pmaitra]

Used Chini subs I guess. Why dies BD need a sub? Against which navy? Surely not India against which it stands no chance.

The question is, why are they able to afford this? Is this going to be a false flagger? I mean, could this be a de facto PLAAN submarine under BD colours snooping around India?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India tried to stay neutral but if bd starts acting up time to start sending arms to Myanmar.

 

[hit&run]

In naval warfare hostile neighbor pose more threat than a distant enemy.

Chinese will be operating those subs for Bangladesh. Experts can now assume what Chinese be able to benefit from it. The propaganda line towed by Chinese propagandist at WAB is that it for to check Burma.

This deal gives China an exclusive access to Bay of Bengal which they are not getting being challenged by Indian Navy out scouting them all the time.

The subs being offered are short legged when its come to range. Being operated by China they never had the chance to come that close to Indian littoral waters.

With this deal other Chinese subs may get swapped with these two and get refueling rights from Bangladeshi ports.

I hope InN will reduce it's threshold/sensitivity for presence of any other Chinese sub and have permanent tail of these two or its identification/noise signatures recorded in detail.

It is a shame that China can sell your neighbors Submarines and missiles but your own defense minister and his minions always feel invited to talk about (release articles to press) how and why not to angry China.

BTW why I am expecting India to be proactive against China since it is UPA lead by Man Mohan Singh in power. Some times I fail to keep my own vows.

 

[sayareakd]

Great news infact we should finance one sub and later on get it from Bangladesh to have a good look at Chinese tech.

RAW can arrange for the funds from its unaudited account.

 

[Ray]

If Chinese submarines are sneaking inti Indian waters, there should be no reason to whine & wail.

What India should do is have ships & equipment that can detect, deter & is the need be sink these Chinese subs.

If Bangladesh equips herself militarily, why are we so incredulous?

Instead of getting incredulous, India must have some Strategic Vision & be ready to have a credible response.

But the manner in which our Govt is approaching geo strategic concerns, by the time India wakes up, it might be too late.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

If Chinese submarines are sneaking inti Indian waters, there should be no reason to whine & wail.

What India should do is have ships & equipment that can detect, deter & is the need be sink these Chinese subs.

If Bangladesh equips herself militarily, why are we so incredulous?

Instead of getting incredulous, India must have some Strategic Vision & be ready to have a credible response.

But the manner in which our Govt is approaching geo strategic concerns, by the time India wakes up, it might be too late.

P8i can be used against these rustbuckets.

 

[Ray]

P8i can be used against these rustbuckets.

We cannot legislate what our neighbours will do.

What however we can legislate is be prepared for anything that our neighbours do.

That unfortunately is not doing so & instead the Govt has been supine, moribund & has practically given up the ship!

That is what I am trying to state.

 

[ice berg]

`Bangladesh finalises deals with China for 2 submarines`

Dhaka: Bangladesh has finalised a deal to buy two submarines from China as part of its plans to develop a three-dimensional navy, according to a media report today.

The two Ming-class submarines are expected to strengthen the navy's ability to protect maritime resources and territorial waters, the New Age newspaper quoted unidentified officials as saying.

"The state-to-state deal would cost Bangladesh Taka 1,600 crore or USD 203.3 million to procure the two Ming-class submarines," the report said.

Officials from the navy or military's media arm were not immediately available for comment but the report came four months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the government's plans to procure submarines.

In August, Hasina told a navy ceremony that, despite economic constraints, her government is committed to building a modern and balanced three-dimensional naval force for safeguarding interests in the high seas and littoral regions.

According to earlier reports, the Type 035G diesel-electric submarines were scheduled to be delivered in 2019. The navy decided to make payments to the Chinese state-owned firm that makes the submarines from the current fiscal to 2017-18.

The navy said 17 officials had been trained to operate submarines and it had acquired land on Kutubdia Island in southwestern Cox's Bazaar to set up a submarine base.

"We need to have a robust maritime presence as a strategic nation," Maj Gen (retired) A N M Muniruzzaman, a defence analyst, told a news agency.


The Indian Ocean has become the "most strategic maritime theatre" with India, China and the US being the key actors, particularly after America's maritime policy began focussing on the region, he said.

The submarine deal will be the second major defence agreement this year. Bangladesh earlier finalised a USD 1 billion deal with Russia to procure Mi-17 helicopters, combat trainer aircraft, armoured personnel carriers, anti-tank missiles and pontoon bridges.

Analysts have said this deal appeared to be a diplomatic shift as Russia was not a traditional source of weapons. The Bangladeshi military is more familiar with weapons from China and the US, they said.

I assume the costs including training and setting up infrastructures. Which explains why they will be delivered from 2019.