India: Bangladesh missiles part of China’s encirclement - Experts
- From: Muhammad Javed Iqbal <kaleemjavediqbal@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:17:56 -0700 (PDT)
The frigate, commissioned by the Bangladesh Navy in 1989, is a 1,500-
ton Chinese built Jianghu class warship, and the C-802A missile,
according to experts, is a modified version of Chinese Ying Ji-802
(western version SACCADE) with its weight reduced from 815 kg to 715
kg to increase its strike range from 42 km to 120 km.
A missile arsenal Bangladesh has begun building with Chinese help is
part of Beijing's considered stragtegy to encircle India, says an
Indian expert who wondered 'against whom are the Bangladeshis arming
themselves?'
Bangladesh is acquiring the European OTOMAT MK-II surface-to-air
missiles (SAMs) that are defensive in nature and function. But their
range of less than 200 km makes them a defence only against India,
said Brig. (retd.) Gurmeet Kanwal, Director of New Delhi-based think
tank Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).
Over the years, he pointed out, China has armed each of the South
Asian nations surrounding India with missile systems and Dhaka is the
latest in line.
Bangladesh depends almost entirely on China for its military hardware
and hence, it is not surprising that it has chosen not to inform India
of its latest acquisition, Kanwal told IANS, adding that Sri Lanka too
has been in the same league.
Dhaka's missile systems are all outright purchases and there is no
technbology transfer or development involved as in, say, Pakistan's
case.
The present miliary-backed caretaker government in Dhaka has taken
special care to keep the armed forces happy with purchase of military
hardware, perks, promotions and postings. Many retired and serving
military officers have been given diplomatic assignments.
The latest in the line is Lt. Gen. Mashududdin Chowdhury, a serving
officer who has been made part of the military caucus that has been
indirectly ruling Bangladesh for some time now.
According to Indian intelligence sources, Bangladesh is in the process
of clinching a deal with an integrated European company MBDA for
buying five OTOMAT launch systems. The missiles carry a payload of 210
kg and can hit targets 180 km away.
The Bangladesh Air Force is also negotiating with Turkish arms dealer
ASELSAN for the Shorad (Short Range Air Defence) system and 3D air
defence radars.
Bangladesh has already established a missile launch pad near
Chittagong Port with assistance from China, according to these
sources. Its missile programme is a recent one, with the maiden
missile test conducted on May 12 with active participation of a group
of Chinese experts.
It successfully test-fired the anti-ship cruise missile C-802A with a
strike range of 120 km from the frigate BNS Osman near Kutubdia Island
in the Bay of Bengal.
The frigate, commissioned by the Bangladesh Navy in 1989, is a 1,500-
ton Chinese built Jianghu class warship, and the C-802A missile,
according to experts, is a modified version of Chinese Ying Ji-802
(western version SACCADE) with its weight reduced from 815 kg to 715
kg to increase its strike range from 42 km to 120 km.
The radar-equipped missile can carry a 165-kg warhead. Since its
guidance equipment has strong anti-jamming capability, the ships it
targets have a very low success rate in intercepting the missile. The
hit probability of the Ying Ji-802 is rated as 98 percent. It can be
launched from aircraft, ships, submarines and even land-based vehicles
and is considered to be on par with the US Harpoon, arguably the best
anti-ship missile among present day system.
The Pentagon has notified the US Congress of the 'possible' sale of
the Harpoon to India in a deal valued at $170 million
M. Javed Iqbal
.
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