Extended reach: Bangladeshi naval modernisation

2015-04-24
Mazumdar, Mrityunjoy


FULL TEXT
As part of the Bangladeshi government's drive to modernise its armed forces (Forces Goal 2030), the Bangladesh Navy (BN) is in the midst of an ambitious 10-year development plan to transform it from a largely coastal defence force into a modern 'three-dimensional' navy comprising surface, undersea, and naval air elements able to better protect Bangladesh's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and bolster its sea-based economy. Crucially, the BN will gain a submarine arm, thereby giving it a meaningful sea denial capability as well as altering the regional balance of power.

Pivotal to the BN's ongoing fleet modernisation is China's assistance - through platforms, designs, and combat systems on terms and prices the cash-strapped BN can afford - and its influence can be seen in recent developments. Key players in China's support to the BN include China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Company (CSOC), and Poly Technologies Inc for platforms and China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation for weapons and combat systems.



The BN is expected to take delivery of an initial pair of new Chinese-built Shadhinata-class corvettes in August, Chinese industry sources confirmed in March at the LIMA 2015 exhibition in Langkawi, Malaysia. Construction of the warships began at Wuchang Shipbuilding in Wuhan, China, in January 2013. First-of-class Shadhinata (F111) was launched on 26 November 2014, while second ship Prottoy (F112) entered the water on 30 December 2014.



Although based on the People's Liberation Army Navy's Type 056 (Jiangdao class), the 90 m, 1330-ton corvettes are being built to a bespoke design for the BN, according to Sun Lianfei, chief designer at CSIC. Powered by two Pielstick 16V PA6 280 diesel engines, the ship will have a top speed of 25 kt, while its flight deck has been designed for a 4-ton helicopter.



The Shadhinata-class corvette differs from the Type 056 in having a revised forward and aft superstructure layout, a stern interceptor plate, and a lack of anti-submarine warfare armament. The ship's two 30 mm H/PJ-17 cannons, with a new type of electro-optical director, have been sited further aft, while Kelvin Hughes Sharp Eye I-band (X-band) and E/F-band (S-band) radars are installed in place of SVA Kaige radars. A sonar system is not fitted.



Otherwise, the combat systems appear to be largely identical to those of the Type 056, including the 76 mm main gun, four C-802A surface-to-surface missiles with a 180 km range, an 8-round FL-3000N surface-to-air missile system, an NRJ-6A electronic warfare suite, and two nine-barreled PJ-46 series decoy launchers. Sensors include an SR-60 search radar and TR-47C fire control director.



Meanwhile, the BN is also expected to take delivery of two refurbished Type 035G Ming-class submarines for its nascent submarine arm later this year. The submarines are being acquired from Chinese state-owned enterprise Poly Technologies Inc for a reported BDT15-16 billion (USD200 million).



These and other related developments are emblematic of the key role China plays in the BN's ongoing modernisation programme, launched in 2009, which is driven largely by the need to protect the nation's sea lines of communication (SLOCs) and resource-rich EEZ.



Expansion plans



According to local media reports in 2014, the BN has requested BDT140 billion for an 6-8-year acquisition plan. This envisages two new frigates for BDT40 billion, two used frigates for BDT10 billion, corvettes for BDT16 billion, two large patrol craft (LPCs) for BDT8 billion, five patrol craft for BDT5 billion, a training ship for BDT2 billion, another BDT2 billion for a logistics ship, BDT1 billion for a fleet tanker, BDT4 billion for four mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs), BDT10 billion for an oceanographic research vessel, BDT4 billion for a rescue and salvage ship, and BDT2.4 billion for a floating dockyard, along with BDT2.5 billion for two maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) and BDT1.6 billion for two helicopters. Amphibious warfare vessels and tugboats are also needed.



A further BDT30 billion has been allocated for the construction of naval bases and naval aviation facilities, including BDT15 billion for a submarine base.



It is unclear whether this plan represents acquisitions beyond ongoing projects, since several appear to be completed or under way. For instance, two used frigates, patrol craft, a fleet tanker, some landing craft and naval aircraft - two Dornier 228 NG MPAs and two AgustaWestland AW109 helicopters - have already been acquired. Similarly, the construction of the BN's largest base, featuring submarine berthing and aviation facilities, at Rabanabad in Patuakhali, as well as a submarine base on Kutubdia Island near Cox's Bazar, is understood to be under way.



However, the two frigates, corvettes, MCMVs, and the four auxiliary vessels appear to be new projects. Beyond what is listed above, plans also call for the acquisition of two more new submarines to be acquired by 2020.



Becoming a builder's navy



In March 2014 Bangladeshi Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib said the BN is transitioning to a "builder's navy" through the in-country construction of progressively more complex warships, corvettes, and frigates. To this end the navy-owned Khulna Shipyard (KSY) - which recently completed five 50 m Padma-class patrol craft using material kits supplied by CSOC - has progressed to building two 64 m Durjoy-class missile-armed LPCs under a contract signed in mid-July 2014.



When these vessels are completed in July 2017, the BN will have four LPCs in service, although some sources suggest a total of six may eventually be built at KSY.



Going forward, plans call for building at least two (and possibly four) Shadhinata-class corvettes, followed by frigates at KSY, although the specific platform type and numbers have yet to be revealed.



KSY is also building two 42 m landing craft utility (LCU) vessels, while another navy-owned shipyard, Dockyard and Engineering Works (DEW) Limited in Narayanganj, delivered a pair of 25.6 m-long tank landing craft - LCT 103 and LCT 105 - on 18 November 2014.



The BN also received a small 80 m-long fleet tanker, BNS Khan Jahan Ali , from Ananda Shipyard in November 2014 to replace an older ship of the same name. Fitted with UK-sourced replenishment-at-sea gear, the tanker can replenish two ships simultaneously. Notably, most of these ships are of Chinese design.

Chinese credit line

A 16 December 2014 report from Dhaka-based news agency New Age quoted a top official in the Bangladeshi prime minister's office (PMO) as saying Dhaka would soon engage in negotiations with Beijing to secure a USD1billion credit line from Poly Technologies Inc for constructing naval bases and purchasing Chinese naval equipment and new naval platforms. Poly Technologies Inc has recently supplied two off-the-shelf Type 053H2 (Jianghu III) frigates, Abu Bakr and Ali Haider , to the BN for its 7th Frigate Squadron.

Officials in the economic relations division of the Finance Ministry said the credit line, which could either be a commercial loan or a supplier's credit, will have an eight-year repayment period, with a two-year grace period. The PMO has directed both the defence and finance ministries to finalise the terms and conditions of the Chinese credit line, with negations slated to begin "soon", according to the New Age report.

While recent developments point to further Chinese warship acquisitions in the near term, using Chinese funding, acquisitions from the United States (supplying large high-endurance cutters and small patrol craft) and countries such as South Korea are likely to continue, albeit at a reduced scale. Former US Coast Guard (USCG) cutter Jarvis (since renamed Somudro Joy ) was transferred to the BN in May 2013, while the USCG officially offered the newly decommissioned cutter Rush to Bangladesh on 8 August 2014.

"Currently, 20 BN personnel are participating in pre-transfer training aboard ex- Rush in San Diego. The letter of offer and acceptance for the vessel itself and post-transfer support was offered to Bangladesh on 11 March 2015," a USCG official told IHS Jane's on 24 March. Rush 's transfer is planned for May in Alameda, California, he said. The cutters would constitute the 9th Frigate Squadron. Additional transfers are expected.

Mrityunjoy Mazumdar is a JDW Correspondent, based in Alameda, California

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