DHAKA: Chinese supplies to the Bangladesh armed forces have raised questions over the quality and longevity of the products at a time while it is trying to emerge as a key defense exporter to certain South Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
Defects have been detected in the newly inducted frigate for the Bangladesh Navy besides basic trainer aircraft and K-8 aircraft for the Bangladesh Air Force and short-range air defense system for the Bangladeshi military, reported the Economic Times.
Over the past decade, $2.59 billion was reportedly spent by Bangladesh on acquiring Chinese military equipment.
The type 053H3 frigate for the Bangladesh Navy have shown defects in fire control system as well as in the helicopter fueling and defueling system. Defects have also been unearthed in the gyro compass. The frigates were supplied by Poly Technologies Inc.
Poly Technologies is a subsidiary of China Poly Group Corporation, a trade company with headquarters in Beijing, which deals with missiles and other military products.
The Bangladesh Air Force, which purchased three K-8 aircraft from China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), has been facing trouble over ‘armament problem of hung ordnance’ The Asian Age reported.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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