Bangladesh Enters New Era of Air Defence With Indigenous Drone Manufacturing Initiative

Bangladesh is set to enter a new era in air defence and modern warfare technology, as the country moves to establish its first-ever unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturing and assembly capability with technical assistance from China. To this end, a significant government-to-government (G2G) agreement has been signed between the Bangladesh Air Force and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC).

The agreement, covering the establishment of a “UAV Manufacturing and Assembly Plant” along with technology transfer (ToT), was signed on Tuesday, January 27, at the Air Force Headquarters. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate confirmed the development in an official press release.

According to ISPR, the signing ceremony was attended by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan as the chief guest. The agreement will be implemented under the project titled “Establishment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Manufacturing and Assembly Plant and Technology Transfer.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the Bangladesh Air Force and CETC International will jointly establish a state-of-the-art UAV manufacturing and assembly facility in the country. The initiative is expected to significantly enhance Bangladesh’s capabilities in drone technology.

Key features of the agreement include technology transfer, capacity building, industrial skill development, and joint technical cooperation. In the long term, the initiative is expected to help Bangladesh achieve self-reliance in drone production and further strengthen the country’s domestic defence industry.

In the initial phase, the Bangladesh Air Force will acquire the capability to manufacture and assemble various types of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs. Additionally, the project is expected to enable the Air Force to develop the capacity to design and produce drones based on indigenous designs in the future.

The event was also attended by Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen; Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hasan; Secretary to the Chief Adviser’s Office Md Saifullah Panna; Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Dr Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury; along with senior officials of the Bangladesh Air Force.

Analysts believe that the agreement represents a milestone not only in enhancing Bangladesh’s defence capabilities, but also in developing a skilled workforce in high-technology sectors and promoting the growth of domestic industry.

DBTech/DBN/EK/OR