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New Delhi. CETC not only manufactures drones, but also radar and telecommunications equipment. The company develops IT infrastructure, including networks and software, for both civilian and military use. Bangladesh’s interim government confirmed on Tuesday that it has signed a significant defense agreement with China. Under this agreement, a factory will be established in Bangladesh to manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. This agreement was signed between the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and China’s state-owned company, China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC). The
main objective of the agreement
is that the BAF and CETC will jointly establish a state-of-the-art facility in Bangladesh where drones will be produced and assembled. A key part of this deal is that the Chinese company CETC will also transfer technology to the Bangladesh Air Force. This is intended to enhance the BAF’s capabilities so that it can independently produce drones in the future.

What types of drones will be manufactured?
According to the statement, initially, the Bangladesh Air Force will acquire the capability to manufacture and assemble two types of drones: MALE UAVs, i.e. medium-altitude drones, and VTOL UAVs, i.e. drones that can take off and land vertically like helicopters (they do not require a runway).

These drones
will be used for multipurpose tasks, including humanitarian aid delivery, disaster management, military operations, etc. The agreement was signed at the BAF Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment. Senior officials from both countries were present. Bangladesh’s Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Department Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hasan, and representatives from the Chief Advisor’s Office were present. China’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen was present on the Chinese side.

About Chinese company CETC CETC not only manufactures drones, but also radars and telecommunications equipment. The company develops IT infrastructure, including networks and software, for both civilian and military use. China has been Bangladesh’s main defense weapons supplier for decades. According to several reports, the Bangladesh Air Force is planning to replace its aging F-7 and MiG-29 aircraft. To do this, they are close to finalizing a $2.2 billion (approximately Rs 18,000 crore) deal to purchase 20 Chengdu J-10C Vigorous Dragon multi-role fighter jets from China.