Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC) have signed a deal under a G2G framework on Tuesday to establish an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV-drone) manufacturing and assembly plant and technology transfer.

 The agreement was signed at the Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan was present at the ceremony as the chief guest, said an ISPR media release.

Under the agreement, the Bangladesh Air Force and CETC International will jointly establish a state-of-the-art UAV manufacturing and assembly facility plant in Bangladesh.

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The initiative includes technology transfer, capacity building, industrial skill development and joint technical cooperation, which will help in acquiring long-term self-reliance in UAV production, it said.

Through this project, the Bangladesh Air Force will initially acquire the capability to manufacture and assemble various types of Medium Altitude Low Endurance (MALE) UAVs and Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs.

Besides, the Bangladesh Air Force will also produce its own UAVs.

These UAVs will be used not only for military operations but also for humanitarian assistance and disaster management, the release added.

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Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan, Secretary of the Chief Adviser’s Office Md Saifullah Panna, Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Dr Hafiz Ahmed Chowdhury, senior Bangladesh Air Force officials, representatives of CETC International, senior officials of the Armed Forces Division and various ministries were, among others, present at the event.