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| Bangladesh |
| Bangladesh Navy Tests Chinese Anti-Ship Missile |
| 2008-05-18 |
| Bangladesh, with the help of China, test-launched its first C-802A anti-ship missile from a frigate in the Bay of Bengal on May 12. Commissioned in 1989, the 1,500-ton F-18 Osman is a Chinese-built Jianghu-class frigate. This is Dhaka's first C-802 missile test launch. The navy acquired the improved C-802A variant and FM-90N SAM and the air force procured Chinese PL- air-to-air missiles in 2006. The number of units is unknown. China has an intimate relationship with Bangladesh's military. Much of its army, navy and air force consists of Chinese hardware. In August 2007, Chinese Gen. Chen Bingde visited Bangladesh to discuss military sales and cooperation. Chen, a member of China's Central Military Commission, was also chief of the General Armament Department of the People's Liberation Army. Bangladesh's navy inventory includes the Jianghu-class 1,500-ton F-18 Osman frigate, four 175-ton Huangfeng-class guided-missile patrol boats (PTG), five 68-ton Houku-class PTGs and other Chinese vessels, including a torpedo boat, patrol boat, submarine hunter, minesweeper, landing craft, tugs and survey craft. The air force is equipped with two squadrons of Chengdu F-7Ms and Guizhou FT-7s, one squadron of Nanchang A-5Cs and Shenyang FT-6s, and one trainer squadron of Nanchang PT-6s. Army equipment includes Chinese W-531 Type 85 armored personnel carriers, T-62 light tanks and T-59 main battle tanks. According to its declaration to the United Nations in 2007, covering 2006, China has sold 65 large-caliber artillery systems, including 18 122mm howitzers and 16 rocket launchers. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #6 Bengalis exported 20,000,000 of their countrymen to India; others elsewhere. They have other priorities than purchasing anti ship missiles. Jihad obligations again. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-05-18 22:52 |
| #5 Good point, RWV - though a Coast Guard would make even more sense.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-05-18 22:30 |
| #4 Barbara, since Bangladesh always seems to be underwater, a navy makes more sense than the army. |
| Posted by: RWV 2008-05-18 19:54 |
| #3 #2 Just what I was thinking - who knew? I'll go wid SILKWORMS-ON-A-RAFT??? behind Door#3 , Jim! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-05-18 17:53 |
| #2 Bangladesh has a navy? Why? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-05-18 16:36 |
| #1 I'm sure the Indians are quaking in their boots. |
| Posted by: gromky 2008-05-18 14:36 |