Bangladesh Air Force

Bangladesh Air Force
  • বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী
  • Bāṅlādēś Bimān Bāhinī
Crest of Bangladesh Air Force
Founded28 September 1971; 53 years ago (1971-09-28)
Country Bangladesh
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size17,390 active duty personnel[1][2]
2,800 civilians[1][2]
156 aircraft[3][4]
Part of Bangladesh Armed Forces
HeadquartersDhaka Cantonment
PatronThe President of Bangladesh
Motto(s)বাংলার আকাশ রাখিব মুক্ত
("We shall keep the sky of Bangladesh free")[5]
Colours
  • Service uniform: Light Sky Blue, Prussian Blue
      
  • Combat uniform: Deep Sky Blue, Prussian Blue, Black, Grey
        
Mascot(s)Flying Eagle
Anniversaries28 September (Air Force Day)
21 November (Armed Forces Day)
Engagements
Websitebaf.mil.bd
Commanders
Commander-In-ChiefPresident Mohammed Shahabuddin
Chief of Air Staff Air chief marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan[6][7]
Insignia
Ensign
Roundel
Fin flash
Aircraft flown
AttackYakovlev Yak-130, Bayraktar TB2
FighterMiG-29, Chengdu F-7
HelicopterBell 212, Mil Mi-17, AW139
InterceptorChengdu F-7
ReconnaissanceSelex ES Falco, Bayraktar TB2
TrainerG-120TP, PT-6, AW119kx, Bell 206,K-8W, Yak-130, BBT-2
TransportC-130J, C-130, An-32, L-410

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, romanized: Bāṅlādēś Bimān Bāhinī) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The air force is primarily responsible for air defence of Bangladesh's sovereign territory as well as providing air support to the Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Navy. Furthermore, the BAF has a territorial role in providing tactical and strategic air transport and logistics capability for the country.[8]

Since its establishment on 28 September 1971, the Bangladesh Air Force has been involved in various combat[9] and humanitarian operations, from the Bangladesh Liberation War in which it was born, to support international efforts including United Nations peacekeeping missions. Operation Kilo Flight was a famous operation conducted by the Bangladesh Air Force during the Bangladesh Liberation War.[9]

  1. ^ a b সশস্ত্রবাহিনীর মোট সদস্য সংখ্যা দুই লাখ চার হাজার ৫৯৬ জন. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 8 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর সদস্য সংখ্যা ২ লাখ ৪ হাজার ৫৯৬ জন. The Daily Sangram (in Bengali). Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  4. ^ "7 newly procured aircraft for BAF arrive in Chittagong". Dhaka Tribune. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Bangladesh Air Force motto in English". Join Bangladesh Air Force. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Air Chief Hasan Mahmood Khan wears Air Chief Marshal rank batch". The Business Standard. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Hasan Mahmood Khan appointed air force chief". The Daily Star (Bangladesh). 26 May 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Air Force strengthens ties, bolster tactical airlift interoperability in exercise with Bangladesh Air Force". DVIDS. 3 March 2024. Archived from the original on 7 November 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Air force celebrates 53rd founding anniversary". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 28 September 2024. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024.