Bangladesh Air Force
| Bangladesh Air Force | |
|---|---|
| বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী Bānglādēśh Bimān Bāhinī |
|
The Crest of the Bangladesh Air Force
|
|
| Active | 1971–present |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Allegiance | People's Republic of Bangladesh |
| Type | Military aviation |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 17,000 personnel 148 aircraft |
| Part of | Bangladesh Armed Forces |
| Air Headquarters | Dhaka Cantonment |
| Nickname(s) | BAF |
| Patron | The President of Bangladesh |
| Motto(s) |
বাংলার আকাশ রাখিব মুক্ত |
| Colors | Light Sky, Deep sky |
| Mascot(s) | Flying Eagle |
| Anniversaries | Armed Forces Day (21 November) |
| Engagements |
Bangladesh Liberation War Gulf War Chittagong Hill Tracts operation United Nations peacekeeping missions |
| Website | www.baf.mil.bd |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of Air Staff | Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar, BBP,ndc, acsc |
| Insignia | |
| Ensign |  |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | MiG-29, Mi-171, Yak-130 |
| Bomber | An-32 (converted) |
| Fighter | MiG-29, F-7 |
| Helicopter | Bell 206, Bell 212, Mi-17, AW 139 |
| Interceptor | F-7 |
| Reconnaissance | F-7 |
| Trainer | PT-6, Bell 206, L-39, K-8, YAK 130, L-410 |
| Transport | An-32, C-130, L-410 |
বাংলার আকাশ রাখিব মুক্ত
Transliteration:Banglar Aakash Rakhibo Mukto
The Bangladesh Air Force (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, Bangladesh Biman Bahini, reporting name: BAF), is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, primarily tasked with the air defence of Bangladesh territory and providing air support to the Bangladesh Army and Navy. Additionally, the service has a territorial role of providing strategic air transport and logistics capability for the country. The Bangladesh Air Force employs around 17,000 full-time personnel, including 3,500 pilots and currently operates close to 150 aircraft.
Since its establishment on 21 September 1971, the Air Force has been involved in various combat and humanitarian operations, from the Bangladesh Liberation War in which it was born to supporting international efforts including the Coalition of the Gulf War and United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The Bangladesh Air Force was officially formed at the Sector Commanders Conference during its independence war from Pakistan in 1971. Its official date of formation has been established as 28 September 1971 and it was launched formally by the Government on 8 October 1971. Out of 11 BDF Sectors, the most tactically significant sector, the Central Sector - Sector 11, was in command of a BAF officer including Sector 6. A significant number of BAF personnel participated in the Bangladesh War of Independence. Initially, BAF was formed with all officers and airmen of Bengali origin serving in the Pakistan Air Force prior to the war. At that time, the embryo of Bangladesh Air Force BAF) was formed with less than a hundred officers and a quite good number of airmen and warrant officers. During the independence war, officers of the BAF attached to the Z-Force were then Bangladesh Gov't Representative to Chakulia Guerilla Trng. Camp Squadron Leader M. Hamidullah Khan, later Sub-Sector Commander and as Commander-Sector 11, Flight Lieutenant Liaqat as Battalion Adjutant, Flying Officer Rouf, Flying Officer Ashraf and Flight Sergeant Shafiqullah as company commanders. Squadron Leader Sadruddin Hossain, Squadron Leader Wahidur Rahim, Squadron Leader Nurul Qader, Squadron Leader Shamsur Rahman and Air Commodore Ataur Rahman as sub sector company commanders. Squadron Leader Khademul Bashar participated in the war as Commander-Sector 6.
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