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Bangladesh adds submarines to naval fleet

The Bangladesh Navy has taken delivery of two refurbished Type 035G diesel-electric submarines (SSK) – BNS Nabajatra and BNS Joyjatra – from China.

As per the Bangladesh armed forces, the two SSKs were handed over the Bangladesh Navy in a ceremony conducted at the Dalian Shipyard in China’s Liaoning province.

The Nabajatra-class can launch torpedoes and deploy mines.

The BNS Nabajatra and BNS Joyjatra will arrive in Bangladesh at the beginning of 2017.

Notes & Comments:

The BNS Nabajatra and BNS Joyjatra are the Bangladesh Navy’s first submarines in its service history. Dhaka ordered the submarines in 2013 for $203.3 million U.S.

The Type 035G is a late-model variant of the Ming-class SSK, which had served as one of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)’s mainstay conventional submarines until the late 1990s when the Type 039 Song-class was introduced (and subsequently joined by the Type 039A and Type 041 Yuan-class).

While not among China’s contemporary submarine designs, it is likely that the Bangladesh Navy opted for refurbished Ming-class SSKs as a low-cost means to acclimatize itself with submarine operations, not just in terms of crew training, but also in terms of developing a specific naval doctrine for sub-surface warfare.

It is reasonable to expect Bangladesh to commit to another submarine order in the long-term. The S20 – which is China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Corporation (CSOC)’s primary export design – could be an option. Pakistan recently signed a multi-billion-dollar deal for eight air-independent propulsion (AIP)-powered submarines. Thailand committed to buying three customized S20 – i.e. S26T – for $1 billion.

author avatar
Bilal Khan Founder
Founder of Quwa, Bilal has been researching Pakistani defence industry and security issues for over 15 years. His work has been cited by Pakistan's National Defence University (NDU), the Council of Foreign Relations, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Centre of Airpower Studies and many others. He has a Hons. B.A in Political Science and Masters of Interntional Public Policy from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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3 Comments

  • by John Rue
    Posted November 14, 2016 10:54 pm 0Likes

    I hope Chinese didn’t put any hi tech gear on them. BD govt is extremely pro India at this time. I wont be surprised if they offer frequent war games to Indian Navy to help them get a feel of Chinese subs.

  • by Syed
    Posted November 15, 2016 2:42 am 0Likes

    If thailands 3submarines cost one billion dollars how come eight of ours cost five billion.Am I missing something here

  • by Bilal Khan - Quwa
    Posted November 15, 2016 4:29 am 0Likes

    To be fair the value of Pakistan’s contract was not disclosed. The $4-5bn figure came from the Financial Times, which got it from one person who isn’t in the loop with the Pakistan Navy to know the hard details (and the person apparently gave the figure as a guesstimate). That said, Pakistan’s deal is worth more by virtue of (1) AIP, (2) probable customization in subsystems and munitions compatibility (e.g. LACM), and (3) extensive transfer-of-technology in terms of actual manufacturing competencies.

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