Bangladesh to buy frigates, fighter planes and missiles
By DPA, IANSThursday, February 4, 2010
DHAKA - Bangladesh plans to buy military hardware, including tanks, frigates, fighter planes and surface-to-air missiles, to strengthen its armed forces, a minister said Thursday.
“To modernise the armed forces, the government has decided to purchase a number of military equipments in the current fiscal year (due to end on June 30),” Bangladesh’s Planning Minister A.K. Khandaker told parliament.
He said that the plan included seven tanks for the army and a range of equipment including 80 armoured personnel carriers and two helicopters for the use of Bangladeshi soldiers on United Nations peacekeeping missions abroad.
A process was underway to call international tenders to purchase two maritime patrol aircraft, seven patrol craft, a survey ship and an oil tanker for the navy, the minister said.
The government also has plans to procure two reconditioned frigates.
For the air force, the government intends to buy a surface-to-air missile system, air defence radar, two helicopters and a squadron of fighter planes and missiles for them.
