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Chinese Weapons Quality: Bangladesh Dilemma

Bangladesh, in departure from its recent trend to diversify procurements from nations other than China, is however slipping into Chinese debt through offers of soft loans to fund the procurement. 

The major defence deals on offer include multi-role combat aircraft (J-10), trainer aircraft, UAVs, missiles, SAM systems (LY-80) and artillery guns.

The aspect of more weapons procurements would have been puton the centre stage by the Chineseduring therecent visit of the Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannanin July. 

The Air Chief met the Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Li Shangfu and PLA Air Force (PLAAF) Commander General Chang Dingqiu and held talks on a range of issues including training, modernisation and exchange of technology between the countries’ air forces.

The Chinese aim to dominate the South Asia landscape by pursuing cheap arms sales in the region along with coercive economic and financial agreements to provide it with a greater penetration of the targeted government structures with an aim to degrade the influence of India.

Arms sales seamlessly provideChinafor collaborative frameworks with similar procurers of these equipments in the neighborhood.

The Chinese weapons for Bangladesh have common features of serviceability and operational training with those supplied to Pakistan.

With these aspects, China aims to catalyse linkages, maintenance and training between Bangladesh and Pakistan or with its preferred partners. 

The Chinese weapons however despite having an initial price advantage, have serious maintainability and performance issues. Bangladesh has been grappling with the weapons and systems such as like tanks, Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), SAM (Surface to Air Missile) systems, fighter/trainer aircraft and submarines procured from the Chinese.

 Snags and glitches

The Bangladeshi government,which had embarked on a massive defence upgrade, procured military hardware valued at USD three billion from China during the period 2011-2020. In 2011, it acquired from China North Industries Corporation (Norinco),MBT-2000 tanksand upgraded a total170, Type 59 tanks to Type 59G.

The Army had also upgraded itsType 69 tank fleet to the Type 69IIG. However, the ammunition for the tanks supplied by Norinco was rejected by theBangladesh Army on grounds of their not being tested.

In 2012-13, severe problems marked test-firing on the 44 Chinese MBT-2000 tanks received by Bangladesh. Subsequently even in the 44 newly procured Chinese Norinco VT-5 tanks were having issues ofmaterial, metallurgical and mechanical faults.

Similarly, technical snags had surfaced on system related to Chinese HQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missile systems. Such as on the transport vehicles, missiles, snags related to engines, communications system and infrared guidance.Radars supplied by China via China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Ltd (CSOC)and newly-inducted frigates have not meet expectations of Bangladeshi Navyin terms of quality.

The type 053H3 Chinese frigates delivered in 2020 were having serious operational issues in the fire control system, helicopter fuelling and defueling system as well as in the  gyro compass for navigation in radars

The naval warships, acquired from China Shipbuilding and Offshore Company (CSOC) and state-owned Poly Technologies Inc (PTI), are found plagued with many onboard defects.

Faulty power supply equipment and converters, rapid corrosion of underwater hull and propellers, and excessive engine vibrations top the list.Bangladesh Navy is also beset by reduction of the vessels’ speed by about five knots within a few years of their flagging off, while glitches in machinery controls and onboard electronics further compound difficulties in operations.

This apart, three K-8 aircraft acquired from CATIC by the Bangladesh Air Force registered armament problem of hung ordnance.The system responsible for firing missiles refused to function when missiles were launched after locking on a target during tests.CATIC was also adjudged a defaulter in supplying engines for PT-6 aircraft for the Air Force and could only deliver three out of ten committed ones. China Vanguard Industry Company Ltd-makers of theRadar system component(CV-102)in short-range air defence system FM-90 were also found malfunctioning due to abrupt power surge.

The problems continue

Additional issues confronting Bangladesh Navy are in its purchase of the two Chinese Ming class submarines (Type 035G) for which China is in the process of building a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre and a submarine base in Bangladesh. In a published report Bangladesh Navy brought out the large unplanned expenditure  were being made for carrying out maintenance of the submarines. Referring to Chinese equipment used in naval ships, the Navy added that various problems were encountered when they go sailing into the deep sea on these vessels.

Accusing the Chinese authorities of not giving accurateinformation about their weaponry on sale, the Bangladesh Navy rued that these equipment frequently get damaged and they were long delaysingetting spare parts. The delays span to the extent of four to five monthsresulting in a spike in prices, thisleaves Bangladesh Navywith no alternative other than bearing these as additional expenses, in addition to loss of training time and operational preparedness.

Clearly, concentration of procurements from China in the past needs to be digested and incorporated for the future by the Bangladesh armed forces. 

Faults and equipment deficiencies found in engines, materials, software, communication system and infrared guidance device, compounded by poor after-sales response cannot be brushed aside. 

Compounding of the mistake by increasing Chinese weapons procurement due to initial cost advantages but subsequent maintenance disadvantages, increasing costs and reduced availability need to weighed. Never put all your eggs in the Chinese basket.