Bangladesh Faces Persistent Issues with Chinese Military Equipment

Bangladesh has formally complained to China about defective components and technical issues in its imported military hardware, including problems with aircraft, tanks, and naval vessels.

Bangladesh, a long-time purchaser of Chinese military equipment, has formally lodged complaints with Beijing regarding defective components and technical issues affecting its imported defense systems. These issues have raised significant concerns within the Bangladesh military, encompassing various branches including the Navy, Air Force, and Army.

The Bangladesh Navy has reported multiple defects in Chinese-made corvettes, patrol crafts, and onshore patrol vehicles, citing manufacturing flaws and technical difficulties. This extends to two recently acquired Chinese frigates, which experienced numerous issues shortly after their arrival. Chinese companies demanded additional payments to fix these defects, further complicating the situation.

Similarly, the Bangladesh Air Force has encountered significant problems with its Chinese-made F-7 fighter jets and short-range air defense systems. Additionally, the K-8W aircraft, another product of Chinese manufacturing, has faced challenges with ammunition firing. The airborne interception radars and fighter aircraft radars supplied by China have also failed to meet accuracy standards.

The Bangladesh Army is not immune to these difficulties. The Main Battle Tanks (MBT 2000) imported from China's North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) have suffered from a lack of necessary parts for repair and maintenance, hampering their operational readiness.

These issues are not new for Bangladesh. A decade ago, the country purchased two refurbished Ming-class submarines from China, only to later discover that they were obsolete. Additionally, the Bangladesh Navy had to deal with problems related to the C704 missile system on the warship 'BNS Nirmul', with the supplying company, China Vanguard Industry Co. Ltd. (CVIC), only agreeing to an upgrade at an extra cost.

In a move reflecting broader dissatisfaction, Bangladesh decided to replace 36 out of 45 Chinese-made Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS) units with Turkish-made alternatives. This decision highlights the ongoing challenges and reliability issues with Chinese military equipment.

Bangladesh is not the only country facing such problems. Myanmar, among others, has also reported issues with Chinese fighter jets. Experts on the Chinese defense industry argue that China lacks the expertise to produce highly sophisticated military equipment and often relies on outdated technology copied from the West.

Despite these issues, many developing countries continue to purchase Chinese weapons due to their lower cost compared to Western alternatives. China conducts its arms sales through state-run export organizations such as the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), NORINCO, and CVIC.

These ongoing problems with Chinese military hardware are prompting Bangladesh to reconsider its defense procurement strategies, potentially seeking more reliable alternatives to ensure the effectiveness and safety of its military forces.