Bangladesh has received the first four of eight MAPO MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters. The air force ordered the aircraft and a support package last June in a $125 million deal. The remaining four MiG-29s are due for delivery next month.
Following the order, the opposition party tried to block the deal, accusing the government of violating established procedures and bypassing the need for parliamentary approval. The Bangladesh supreme court also issued an order freezing the contract payments.
Bangladesh needs the aircraft to replace ageing Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbed fighters and Shenyang F-6s (a copy of the MiG-19). The country also operates Chengdu F-7M Airguards - Chinese MiG-21 derivatives - in the ground attack role. The MiG-29s will be based at Dhaka alongside the other frontline types.
Although Bangladesh also acquired Russian-built Mil Mi-17 helicopters last year, the country is expected to return to its traditional supplier, China, to fulfil a requirement for another squadron of ground attack aircraft.
Source: Flight International
