Desk Report:
A significant agreement has been signed between Bangladesh Air Force and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC International) on Government-to-Government (G2G) basis for setting up a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) manufacturing and assembly plant and technology transfer.
The agreement was signed at a ceremony organized at the Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment on Tuesday (January 27). Bangladesh Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, BBP, OSP, GUP, NSWC, psc, was present as the chief guest at the ceremony.
The agreement was signed under the ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)’ manufacturing and assembly factory and technology transfer (TOT) project.
Under the agreement, Bangladesh Air Force and CETC International will jointly establish a state-of-the-art UAV manufacturing and assembly facility in Bangladesh. This project will ensure technology transfer, capacity building, industrial skills development and joint technical cooperation, which will help achieve self-reliance in domestic UAV production in the long term.
Initially, Bangladesh Air Force will acquire the capability to manufacture and assemble various types of Medium Altitude Low Endurance (MALE) UAV and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV. In addition, through this project, the Air Force will get the opportunity to design and manufacture its own UAV.
The manufactured UAVs will play an important role in military activities as well as humanitarian assistance, disaster management, search and rescue operations. As a result, it will achieve full self-reliance in domestic UAV production and create the capacity to meet the needs at the national and international levels.
In addition, this project will also contribute significantly to national technological progress through specialized training, knowledge exchange and building a skilled aerospace workforce.
The event was attended by the Honorable Ambassador of China to Dhaka Yao Wen, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hasan, BSP, NDC, HDMC, PSC, PhD, Secretary of the Office of the Chief Advisor Md. Saifullah Panna, Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Dr. Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury, senior officials of the Air Force, representatives of CETC International, high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces Division and various ministries, and other invited guests.
