The Bangladesh Army is acquiring four refurbished UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from the United States to boost its air mobility and operational capabilities. These versatile utility helicopters are renowned for their reliability and will be utilised for missions such as troop transport, medical evacuation, and disaster relief.
The Bangladesh Army is purchasing four refurbished UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters in a government-to-government deal with the US.
The acquisition aims to significantly enhance the Army’s air mobility, rapid response, and operational flexibility.
The Black Hawk helicopters will perform a variety of missions, including troop transport, medical evacuation, special operations, and disaster relief.
The UH-60L Black Hawk is manufactured by Lockheed Martin (previously Sikorsky Aircraft).
These helicopters are medium-lift utility aircraft, capable of carrying up to 11 soldiers, transporting internal cargo of 4,000 lbs, or external cargo of 8,000 kg.
Corruption scandal
The cost per Black Hawk helicopter varies by model and includes factors such as new versus used and bulk purchase discounts, but generally ranges from $15 million to over $20 million for a new UH-60M model purchased by the U.S. military. Other models have different costs, such as the older UH-60L at approximately $5.9 million, and the price for international sales can vary significantly, as shown by Sweden’s purchase for $900 million for 12 brand new helicopters at $75 million each with full spare, training and multi-mission accessories such as MediVac and fire support.
The Bangladesh army has purchased those helicopters through the company of Major General (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, a cousin of former dictator Sheikh Hasina, bypassing the transparent procurement process. Major General (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique was the former security advisor to dictator Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladesh army has purchased those helicopters at an inflated price of $100 million (BDT 1,200 crore), which is more than the price of a brand-new helicopter.
Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Sheikh Hasina, and the Director General Defense Procurement (DGDP) are allegedly involved in embezzling $76.4 million from a contract to supply second-hand helicopters to the Bangladesh army, thereby depleting the army’s capability.
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