History
     Preservation of national history plays a significant role for the development of a nation through ages, because history and heritage remind the past and inspire the future generation to bring the country to the way of development. So, the museum of a country plays an important role preserving the historical events. BAF Museum was established on 17 June 1987. It is housed in the Number 3 hanger of BAF Base Bashar, Dhaka Cantonment. Within its lofty interior, different phased out aircraft have been kept including the aircrafts those took part in our glorious Liberation War.
Items Displayed at BAF Museum
The historical aircraft and other items displayed in the BAF Museum are described below:

This old modeled Canada made aircraft was piston-engine operated. The skilled technicians of BAF who had participated in the Liberation War transformed this aircraft into a fighter cum-bomber through their relentless efforts to use it in air operations. Arrangement was made to set rocket pod under two wings besides machine gun and bomb dropping facilities inside the aircraft. On 03 December 1971, air attack was launched with this aircraft on Burma Eastern Oil Refinery in Chittagong as well on Chittagong Port.

The Hunter aircraft first flew in 1951 and Indian Air Force had been using it since December 1957. It was a highly potent and reliable multi-role aircraft of its time. The Indian Air Force continues to fly the hunter till this day. Armament capability: 4 x Guns x 135 Rounds + 4 x 1000 lb. Bombs or 2 x 19-68 mm rockets. During the War of Liberation of Bangladesh this aircraft flew for ground attack and air defence roles.

The Mig – 21 (FL version) entered in Indian Air Force in 1965 which continues to be in services till date. It was manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Armament capability: 01 Gun x 200 rd + 2 x 500 Kg bombs or 2 x 16 – 57 mm rockets or 2 x IK – 13 missiles. During the War of Liberation of Bangladesh this aircraft flew in air defence, counter air operations, interdiction and battle field strike roles.

GNAT Aircraft  

Gnat was the lightest and smallest jet fighter ever made. It served in the Indian Air Force from 1958 to 1990. It was manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Armament Capability: 02 Guns x 90 rds + 2 x 500 lbs bombs or 02 x 3 inchs x 6 rockets. During the War of Liberation of Bangladesh, three Gnat fighters were used that shot down three Pakistan Air Force Sabre jets in the Bogra Sector on 22 November 1971.

GLIDER Aircraft

This Germany made aircraft was first flown in April 1982. The highest 150 km/hr speed aircraft used in BAF from April 1982 to January 1997.

Short description of the aircraft is:
Length :   7.5 m
Span   :    15.4 m
Height :   1.9 m
Weight :   400 Kg
Ceiling height :   5000 m

F-86 FIGHTER Aircraft

Pakistan Military used this type of USA made aircraft against us in the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. The occupation forces left these aircraft in damaged condition. The BAF Engineering officers and technicians made this aircraft serviceable which made successful flight on 26 March 1972.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Length :   37 ft 6 inch
Height :   14 ft 9 inch
Weight :   14800 lbs
Maximum speed :   977 Km/hr
Span :   37 ft 1 inch

FT – 5 Trainer Aircraf

This China made trainer aircraft had first flown in BAF in June 1979 and last flown in January 1981. It was used for the training of the pilots of fighter aircraft.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Height :   3.80 m
Length :   11.50 m
Weight :   4081 kg
Speed :    .0935 Mack
Span :    9.63 m

F-6 Fighter Aircraft

This Chinese aircraft was inducted in BAF in 1977 and phased out in 1998. This aircraft played a commendable role on air defence in BAF.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Maximum speed :   1955 km/hr
Ceiling Height :   17500 m
No of Cannon :   03
Caliber of the cannon :    30 mm
No of Rocket :    32x57 mm

MIG -21 Trainer Aircraft

This Russian aircraft was inducted in BAF in 1973 and phased out in 2000. This aircraft was used for the training of the BAF Pilots.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Maximum speed :   2500 km/hr
No of Machine Gun :    01
Caliber of Machine Gun :    23 mm
No of Rocket :    64x57 mm

MIG-21 Fighter Aircraft

This Russian aircraft was inducted in BAF in 1973 and phased out in 2000.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Maximum speed :   2500 km/hr
No of Machine Gun :    01
Caliber of Machine gun :    23 mm
No of rocket :    57x64 mm

MI-8 Helicopter

Bangladesh Air Force procured this type of helicopter from Russia during the period from 1972 to 1981. This helicopter was phased out in 1999.

Short description of the Helicopter is :
Height : 5.6 m
Length : 25.28 m
Weight : 7414 kg
Maximum speed : 250 km/hr
Carrying capacity : 4000 kg
Passenger capacity : 24
Bomb capacity : 2x500 kg
No of Machine gun : 06
No of rocket : 64x57 mm

AN-24 Transport Aircraft

This Russia made two turbo propelled engine operated aircraft was first flown on trial basis in 1958 and flown in April 1960. It was inducted in BAF in 1973 and was known in BAF as BALAKA. It was officially used by the then Hon’ble President and the Prime Minister. The fuel capacity of this aircraft was 5550 litres. Pilot, Co-pilots, Flight Engineer, Radio Operator and Navigator were the crew of the aircraft. It had the capacity for 44 passengers.

T-37 Aircraft

This USA made aircraft first flown in BAF 1996 and last flown in 1999.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Length : 29.30 feet
Span : 33.80 feet
Height : 9.20 feet
Weight : 7000 lbs
Ceiling height : 25000 feet

FT-6 Aircraft

This aircraft was inducted in BAF in 1981.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Maximum speed : 17500 m
Ceiling height : 17500 m
Length : 15.015 m
No of Cannon : 03
Caliber of the Cannon : 30 mm
No of Rocket : 32x57 mm

Air Tourer Jet Trainer

This Newzealand made aircraft was used at the Flying Instructors’ School of BAF from 1973 to 1979 to train the students of Flying Instructors’ Course.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Height : 07 feet
Length : 22 feet
Maximum speed : 160 km/hr
Ceiling height : 25000 feet

PT – 6 Aircraft

This China made training aircraft was inducted in BAF in 1977. It was a basic training aircraft.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Maximum speed : 287 km/hr
Weight : 1400 kg
Length : 8.46 m
Fuel capacity : 75 litre

FOUGA

This France made aircraft is in BAF from 1978 to 2000 for advanced training of the pilots.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Maximum speed : 756 km/hr
Ceiling height : 25000 feet

A-5III Fighter Aircraft

This Chinese aircraft inducted in BAF in 1986. This aircraft played an important role in the air defence as well as ground defence.

Short description of the aircraft is :
Maximum speed : 1225 km/hr
Ceiling height : 16400 m
Fuel capacity : 5240 litre

P-35M RADAR

P-35M is a 2D, long range, air surveillance radar. 02X sets of P-35M radars were collected from Russia (Former USSR) in 1974. It is a mobile radar, designed for detection and identification of air targets flying at low and medium altitude. It had the IFF system for electronic identification of aircraft. The surveillance range of the radar was 370 M. The RPM was 3 and 6.

PRV-11 RADAR

PRV –11 is a long range, mobile, height finding radar. 02Xsets of PRV-11 radars were collected from Russia (Former USSR) and installed in BAF in 1974. It was capable of measuring height, range and bearing of aircraft flying within its coverage. The range of the radar was 410 KM and height was 85 KM. It was capable of measuring the upper and lower height of the clouds. The radar was designed to work in co-ordination with P-35M radar. The radars were phased out in 1988.
Mannequins Twelve mannequins made by Glass Fiber representing the different types of uniform used by the officers and airmen of Bangladesh Air Force are displayed in BAF Museum .
Honour Boards Nine honour boards are maintained for COAS, ACAS (O&T), ACAS (M), ACAS (A) and Base Commanders of five (05) BAF Bases (BAF Base Bashar, Matiur, Zahurul Haque and Paharkanchanpur) showing their rank, names, and the duration of the appointment.
Portraits Different kinds of portraits have been preserved in BAF Museum :

(1) Ten for the retired COAS.
(2) One for the Birshrestha Shaheed Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman
(3) One for Sergeant Zahurul Haque who was killed by Pakistani Soldier during the mass movement in 1969.
(4) One for Group Captain M Saiful Azam who is recognized as one of the best Pilot of the World and awarded with Top Gun Certificate.

Murals 56 Murals reflecting the natural view of our mother land and the historical back ground of the liberation war up to the achievement of the independence.

A new study suggests U.S. air power in the Pacific would be inadequate to thwart a Chinese attack on Taiwan in 2020. The study, entitled "Air Combat Past, Present and Future," by John Stillion and Scott Perdue, says China's anti-access arms and strategy could deny the U.S. the "ability to operate efficiently from nearby bases or seas." According to the study, U.S. aircraft carriers and air bases would be threatened by Chinese development of anti-ship ballistic missiles, the fielding of diesel and nuclear submarines equipped with torpedoes and SS-N-22 and SS-N-27 anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), fighters and bombers carrying ASCMs and HARMs, and new ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. The report states that 34 missiles with submunition warheads could cover all parking ramps at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa. An "attack like this could damage, destroy or strand 75 percent of aircraft based at Kadena," it says. In contrast, many Chinese air bases are harder than Kadena, with some "super-hard underground hangers." To make matters worse, Kadena is the only U.S. air base within 500 nautical miles of the Taiwan Strait, whereas China has 27. U.S. air bases in South Korea are more than 750 miles distant, and those in Japan are more than 885 miles away. Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, is 1,500 miles away. The result is that sortie rates will be low, with a "huge tanker demand." The authors suggest China's CETC Y-27 radar, which is similar to Russia's Nebo SVU VHF Digital AESA, could counter U.S. stealth fighter technology. China is likely to outfit its fighters with improved radars and by "2020 even very stealthy targets likely [would be] detectable by Flanker radars at 25+ nm." China is also likely to procure the new Su-35BM fighter by 2020, which will challenge the F-35 and possibly the F-22. The authors also question the reliability of U.S. beyond-visual-range weapons, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM. U.S. fighters have recorded only 10 AIM-120 kills, none against targets equipped with the kinds of countermeasures carried by Chinese Su-27s and Su-30s. Of the 10, six were beyond-visual-range kills, and it required 13 missiles to get them. If a conflict breaks out between China and the U.S. over Taiwan, the authors say it is difficult to "predict who will have had the last move in the measure-countermeasure game." Overall, the authors say, "China could enjoy a 3:1 edge in fighters if we can fly from Kadena - about 10:1 if forced to operate from Andersen. Overcoming these odds requires qualitative superiority of 9:1 or 100:1" - a differential that is "extremely difficult to achieve" against a like power. If beyond-visual-range missiles work, stealth technology is not countered and air bases are not destroyed, U.S. forces have a chance, but "history suggests there is a limit of about 3:1 where quality can no longer compensate for superior enemy numbers." A 24-aircraft Su-27/30 regiment can carry around 300 air-to-air missiles (AAMs), whereas 24 F-22s can carry only 192 AAMs and 24 F-35s only 96 AAMs. Though current numbers assume the F-22 could shoot down 48 Chinese Flankers when "outnumbered 12:1 without loss," these numbers do not take into account a less-than-perfect U.S. beyond-visual-range performance, partial or complete destruction of U.S. air bases and aircraft carriers, possible deployment of a new Chinese stealth fighter around 2020 or 2025, and the possible use of Chinese "robo-fighters" to deplete U.S. "fighters' missile loadout prior to mass attack." The authors write that Chinese counter stealth, anti-access, countermissile technologies are proliferating and the U.S. military needs "a plan that accounts for this."

Chinese Military Adventure

China's military is in the nascent stages of becoming an expeditionary force. The country's anti-piracy deployment to the Gulf of Aden and the use of naval and air assets to support the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Libya in February and March 2011 have shown real capability in this arena. What is an expeditionary power? The US Department of Defense defines it as 'an armed force organized to accomplish a specific objective in a foreign country.' Additionally, such a force should be able to transport, sustain,and protect itself so that it hasthe freedom toconduct independent missions necessary forthe defense of national interests. The PLA's gradual but important evolution toward greater expeditionary capability coincides with China's steadily rising economic presence and the increasing number of Chinese seeking their fortunes in volatile but often fast-growing countries in places like Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, both as employees of large state conglomerates and as private entrepreneurs. For now however, due to cost and perception reasons, China's expeditionary capabilities will most likely be tailored to handling threats to Chinese citizens and economic interests abroad. Foremost among these are non-traditional threats to resource security, such as piracy and terrorism, as well as threats to PRC citizens overseas, such as the internal chaos seen in Libya. Compare this with the US military, which possesses highly sustainable expeditionary capabilities that enable it to fight large wars halfway across the world and simultaneously handle other contingencies. The platforms and operational infrastructure that make high-intensity missions possible can also be scaled down to deal with non-traditional security missions like humanitarian relief after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami or suppression of piracy off Somalia. Therefore, the PLA's naval, air and ground capabilities for out-of-area operations are likely at least 15 years away—and even further away from achieving the ability to handle the range of missions—from achieving the capabilities the US Department of Defense possesses today. But the Chinese military is improving its capacity for dealing with smaller-scale threats that do not involve potential forcible entry into a hostile area, but still involve long-range deployments. Improved abilities to show the flag and assist with humanitarian missions and other military operations other than war can potentially allow a limited expeditionary military capacity to yield substantial diplomatic benefits for China. The PLA Navy's anti-piracy mission to the Gulf of Aden, now over two years old, is proving highly successful. The 2010 China Defense White Paper noted that by the end of 2010, the PLA Navy (or PLAN)had dispatched 7 sorties with 18 ship deployments, 16 embarked helicopters,and 490 Special Operation Force(SOF)soldiers. Using means including accompanying escort, area patrol,and onboard escort, the PLAN has safeguarded 3,139 ships sailing under both the Chinese and foreign flags, rescued 29 other ships from pirate attacks and recovered 9 ships released from captivity by pirates. The Gulf of Aden anti-piracy mission, in turn, helped improve the Chinese military's readiness to take part in the February/March 2011 operation to evacuate more than 30,000 PRC citizens from strife torn Libya. While the majority of these left via chartered ships and aircraft or overland, the operation marked the first time China has deployed military assets to protect PRC citizens overseas. Beijing deployed Xuzhou, one of its most modern missile frigates, and also sent four IL-76 long-range military transport aircraft to help evacuate PRC citizens trapped near Sabha in central Libya. The PLA Navy led the way on China's first expeditionary mission, the GoA anti-piracy deployment, but the PLA Air Force has also been gaining experience in long-range operations through increasingly challenging military exercises that are helping it improve relevant capabilities such as aerial refueling and long-range strike. In September 2010 the PLAAF deployed SU-27's to the Operation Anatolian Eagle exercise in Turkey and the planes reportedly made refueling stops in Pakistan and Iran, according to Hurriyet news. In addition, during the September 2010 Peace Mission multilateral exercise with Kazakhstan and Russia, Chinese J-10s operating from bases in Xinjiang and supported by aerial refueling conducted a 2,000km strike mission with live ordnance against targets in Kazakhstan, according to reports.

Chinese crackdown on free speech.

One month before Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was detained by authorities in his country, he made a powerful case for free expression in a film shown at the TED2011 conference in Long Beach, California. The 53-year-old artist was shown talking about the limits on freedom of speech in China. At the end of the film, he was shown on a live webcam waving as he acknowledged the cheers and standing ovation from the audience at TED. Ai Weiwei was detained April 3 at the Beijing airport, as he was about to travel to Hong Kong, and authorities later said he was under investigation for suspicion of "economic crimes." A spokesman for the foreign ministry, asked about Ai Weiwei, said, "It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression." In the film, the artist said, "I'm living in a society in which freedom of speech is not allowed" and pointed to the blocking of Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube. He said searches for his name on domestic websites were blocked and that he was constantly under surveillance. FlorCruz: Ai arrest highlights China's crackdown Introducing the film, TED curator Chris Anderson showed some of the artist's works, including the Bird's Nest stadium, which he helped design for the Beijing Olympics, an exhibit at Tate Modern in London of more than 100 million handcrafted porcelain "sunflower seeds" and a series of photos in which his middle finger is extended toward symbols of national pride and power such as the Eiffel Tower and the Forbidden City in Beijing. "In recent years, Ai Weiwei has become increasingly critical of the Chinese government and has faced consequences for that," Anderson said. "He's had exhibitions canceled, he's faced beatings and his beautiful new studio in Shanghai was bulldozed on January 11." Anderson said Ai Weiwei couldn't attend the conference "because of his current circumstances," but had secretly recorded the film. In it, Ai Weiwei said he had been trying to connect his art to social change to encourage people to be more involved in society and "to help China to become a more democratic society." After the devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan province in 2008, he mobilized people through the internet to investigate and document the deaths of students in poorly constructed buildings. He said he was "always trying to remind people that an individual can make an effort and also can make an impact." The artist noted China's great strides in growing its economy and becoming more connected to and recognized by the world community. "Still we are still a communist society," he said. "Basic values such as freedom of speech and human rights are still in poor condition. Many people -- only because (they) speak their mind -- they can be put in jail or can be put in a very difficult situation." Ai Weiwei said Western nations are tolerating a lack of human rights in China. "This is very shortsighted and will not help China to become a modern society." Eventually, he said, change will come. "Nobody can really avoid that."

PESHAWAR: A bomb attack near the Pakistani city of Peshawar killed at least six people on Sunday, police said.

“The blast took place at a bus stop and it seems the bomb was planted,” said Raheem Khan, a police inspector. Ten people were wounded.

Pakistan’s Taliban militants, who have close ties to al Qaeda, have carried out a series of attacks to avenge the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. special forces in a Pakistani town on May 2.

They have attacked paramilitary cadets, a US consulate convoy, a naval base and other targets.

The United States reiterated its call on Pakistan to become a more reliable partner in its war on militancy after it was discovered that bin Laden had apparently been living in Pakistan for years.

The Taliban have proven resilient in the face of several army offensives against their strongholds, seemingly carrying out suicide bombings at will.

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Finally the 15 year honeymoon is over. For more than a decade Pakistani Intelligence called ISI had shielded and protected Dawood Ibrahim and like a loyal dog he had done everything for his beloved master including serial bomb-blast in Mumbai, bomb-blast's in other parts of India, murder and then Mumbai carnage. He has developed network for ISI to pump in money,arms,drugs and explosives in various Indian cities as well as Nepal and Bangladesh. In return his master the ISI has given him a safe haven in Karachi for 15 years.

Besides, the don's men have access to police stations in the city and the corridor of power at Mantralaya. The ISI officials pay Dawood for getting their work done through him.

Mumbai police investigations have indicated Dawood is the main agent for subversive activities in India.

But the fairy tale romance may end soon. With the killing of Osama ,murder of Mullah Omar and the latest drone strike on Illyas Kashmiri, there is a growing suspicion in Dawood camp that he may be sacrificed by the Pakistani's for brownie points from America.Therefore Dawood and his band of thugs that include Chotta Shakeel and Aftab Bhatki are looking for a place where they can set up shop and be protected from the American military. Unfortunately till now nobody wants to touch Dawood's case and incur the American wrath.

ISI is famous for being ruthless in sacrificing its own men, they leave their men behind and dis-own any responsibility if it suits them,Dawood has realized that. It has been reported that he has sent feelers to RAW and IB for help. He has asked that if he surrenders to Indian Law will he be kept alive and shielded from the Americans.

The most ill fated project of DRDO perhaps was Bhim. It was developed to take advantage of the sturdy chassis of Arjun tank and the advanced artillery gun of South African manufacturer Dennel.

This artillery system is fitted with a complete T6 turret, developed by Denel of South Africa. It is armed with a 155-mm / L52 howitzer, similar to that of the G6-52. Vehicle has a fully automatic ammunition loading system. Maximum range of fire is 41 km with rocket assisted projectile and 52 km with Denel V-LAP rocket assisted projectile. This system is capable of firing standard NATO 155-mm ammunition. Maximum rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute. Sustained rate is 2 rounds per minute. The Bhim is capable of firing 3 rounds burst in 15 seconds. It is also capable of multiple-launch simultaneous impact firing. Up to 6 rounds are launched in different trajectories and hit located 25 km away simultaneously.

Total onboard ammunition capacity is about 40 - 50 rounds. 20 of these rounds are stored in the autoloader. Turret has ammunition loading hatches on both sides. A conveyor belt may be extended for ground ammunition loading and direct feeding of the gun.

Secondary armament of the Bhim howitzer consists of a single 7.62-mm machine gun.

Vehicle is fitted with modern fire control system. It has a fire control computer for automatic gun laying and GPS navigation system. The Bhim artillery system has a crew of four, however it's high level of automation allows to reduce the crew to two men in a fully automatic mode. It consists of commander, gunner, loader and driver.

Unfortunately Dennel got involved in a bribery scam and was blacklisted from India, thus ended its participation in the project. The only vendor left in the fray was the  K-9 South Korean Firm. Because of the single vendor situation whole contract was scrapped..

In its June edition of tech focus DRDO claims that the army is satisfied with the new look Bhim. Please read the document given below

The recent death of dreaded terrorist called Ilyas Kashmiri may come as a bonanza for Indian Security Agencies fighting his rising clout in the terrorist state of Kerela.

Recently Kashmiri had declared war on India. This war became very popular in Kerela with huge number of people joining up for this war. Kashmiri due to his influence was able to unite all the splinter groups in the state under his banner. This project was called Ghazb-e-Hind. Kashmiri was of the firm believe that recruits coming from Kerela are of much higher quality as they are motivated and extremely loyal to his cause. Thus he had made it a point to recruit nearly whole of his Indian Terrorist Army cadre from terrorist state of Kerela.For Muslims in Kerela Kashmiri was a hero and for them he was bigger than Osama.

Even IB concedes that it was very easy for Kashmiri to do so because youth in Kerela are pro-Pakistan and have a deep-seated hatred for India. Besides this, communal tensions are extremely high in Kerala. Every communal flareup is followed by a major recruitment drive. The communal flare up and the jihadist strategy was not only supported by the 313 brigade of Ilyas Kashmiri but it had found great support in the Gulf Region form where the money was flowing in for forced conversions, militant training,marriage,coercion,bribes etc. The situation was so bad that the police had given up and clearly stated in its report that the situation has completely spiraled out of control.

Kashmiri's pet project -- the Ghazb-e-Hind -- had already commenced in Kerala with a certain number of youths from the state being transported across the border to be personally trained by him.

His training pattern has been extremely successful considering that he belonged to the Pakistan Army's Special Services Group before falling out with them. He claimed to have trained the ten terrorists who undertook the 26/11 attack.The IB says that the other problem was that in the past couple of months, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba too was getting closer to Kashmiri. LeT had big plans for using Kerela youths trained by Illyas Kashmiri all over India to completely de-stabilize the Indian political and social fabric.

This killing of Kashmiri may have given Indian Police the breathing space it needed because Intelligence Bureau was under the impression that soon Kerela was going to become a battle ground for security forces with LeT and Kashmiri as the chief conspirators and Gulf money to keep the Jihad against India well funded.