Bangladesh Air Force to set up drone factory in joint venture with China

Bangladesh Air Force is setting up an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone manufacturing factory in Bangladesh jointly with China under a technology transfer agreement to build a UAV manufacturing plant for the first time in the country.

The construction of the factory is scheduled to be completed by December this year.

The matter was mentioned in the minutes of a coordination meeting held recently under the chairmanship of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun. It was informed that a plan has also been taken to set up a specialized defense economic zone to encourage government, private and foreign investment in the defense sector.

An Air Force official said at the meeting that four aircraft were manufactured under its own design at the Bangladesh Aeronautical Research and Development Center established two years ago, which have successfully completed their flights. The aim was to manufacture training aircraft using its own technology and to produce sport aircraft commercially in the future.

The officials also said that there is demand for aviation products around the world. If the universities work together, it will be possible to transform the country's manpower into a skilled manpower, which will also help increase foreign investment.

In addition, China has proposed to set up an aircraft overhauling center in Bangladesh. An Air Force official said that by utilizing the existing capacity and manpower and adding some equipment, it is possible to overhaul the engines of used aircraft in the country.

He said that the potential for foreign investment in this sector is also bright as the same model of aircraft is also used in neighbouring countries.