According to Guangming Network on July 21, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed shortly after taking off from Dhaka that afternoon.

The F-7 fighter is an export version of the light fighter aircraft developed by China based on the Soviet MiG-21. Since the 1980s, it has become the backbone of air defense for many developing countries.

The Bangladesh Air Force began receiving the F-7MB in 1986, and later introduced the F-7BG, FT-7BG, and the most advanced F-7BGI.

The F-7BGI is the final improved version of this type of aircraft, equipped with a digital cockpit, KLJ-6E radar, and PL-9C short-range air-to-air missiles, and has limited all-weather interception capabilities.

However, despite several upgrades, it is still an equipment from the Cold War era.

Moreover, the F-7 has been in service with the Bangladesh Air Force for over thirty years, and its effectiveness indeed faces challenges.

Crash site

The current situation of the Bangladesh Air Force is clear: aging fleet, insufficient capabilities, and limited training resources.

The F-7 series remains its largest number of fighter jets, but these aircraft are mostly beyond their service life, and their reliability has declined.

The air force's combat sequence also includes a small number of Russian-made MiG-29s, as well as some Yak-130 advanced trainers/light fighters, used for training and light strike missions.

In recent years, although the Bangladeshi government proposed the "Armed Forces 2030" modernization strategy, intending to promote systematic upgrades of the air force, the overall progress has not been fast due to tight military budgets.

The Bangladesh Air Force currently lacks fourth-and-a-half-generation main aircraft with beyond-visual-range strike capabilities, and its air combat, ground support, and maritime patrol capabilities are seriously inadequate.

In addition, the Bangladesh Air Force has not yet formed a system in key areas such as network warfare, battlefield situational awareness, and electronic warfare confrontation, relying on manual command and radar voice guidance, far behind the air forces of regional powers.

Chinese fighter jet

Regarding these difficulties, the upgrade direction of the Bangladesh Ministry of Defense is clear: it wants both the J-10C and the FC-1 Xiaolong.

These two fighter jets come from China, but they have different positions.

The J-10C is a heavy multi-purpose fourth-and-a-half-generation fighter aircraft, equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles, and a complete data link system, capable of air superiority operations and precision ground attack, and it is one of the most powerful fighter aircraft China exports at present.

The FC-1 Xiaolong is a light fighter aircraft jointly developed by China and Pakistan, with the latest batch equipped with the KLJ-7A AESA radar, capable of basic BVR capabilities and good information adaptability, high cost-performance ratio, low operating and maintenance costs, making it very suitable for replacing the F-7 to perform daily air defense and tactical patrol missions.

According to public reports, the Bangladesh Air Force intends to first purchase 16 J-10C fighter jets as a high-end combat main force, while introducing the FC-1 Xiaolong to build a low-end supporting combat force.

Chinese fighter jet

The upgrading of the Bangladesh Air Force is not just a simple replacement of equipment, but a strategic response to the geopolitical situation.

In recent years, Bangladesh has had frequent friction with India, and both sides strongly resent India's hegemonic attitude.

India's Air Force has recently purchased a large number of Rafale fighters, upgraded the Su-30MKI, and strengthened the ability to strike from outside the area, forming a dominant aerial advantage over Bangladesh.

So how to defend against India? Pakistan has set an example. The J-10C plus FC-1 Xiaolong is a ready solution, which has been tested in practice. Pakistan can beat India with this combination, so Bangladesh can certainly do the same.

In fact, before this air battle between India and Pakistan, Bangladesh had already started contacting China about purchasing the J-10C. After the air battle, their confidence would only increase further.

For Bangladesh, if it simultaneously introduces two Chinese fighter jets, it not only gains Chinese equipment and tactical thinking, but also directly replicates the experience of Pakistan to use for itself.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7529746612026065423/

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