DHAKA: The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has signed a landmark defence agreement with China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC) to establish a domestic drone manufacturing and assembly facility, the defence ministry said.
Under the pact, the two sides will jointly develop a manufacturing and assembly plant for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Bangladesh, with provisions for technology transfer aimed at building local industrial and technical capacity.
The signing ceremony was held at the BAF headquarters in Dhaka, attended by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, CETC officials, and other defence representatives.
The initiative will focus on producing Medium Altitude Low Endurance (MALE) UAVs and Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs, according to the ‘TRT World’.
The BAF highlighted that the UAVs will serve multiple purposes, including humanitarian assistance, disaster management, and military operations.
The agreement also emphasizes capacity building, industrial skills development, and joint technical cooperation, aiming to achieve long-term self-reliance in domestic UAV production.
“This defence pact will be expanded to achieve complete self-reliance in domestic UAV production, which will be helpful in meeting national and international needs. At the same time, it will also make a significant contribution to national technological progress through specialised training, knowledge exchange, and building a skilled aerospace workforce,” the defence ministry said.
The partnership reflects Bangladesh’s ambition to strengthen its indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities while fostering technological innovation and skill development in the aerospace sector.
