The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, [Bān:lād ēś bimān:bāhinī], reporting name:
BAF), is the
aerial warfare branch of the
Bangladesh Armed Forces, primarily tasked with an aerial defense of Bangladesh with a role of providing air support to
Bangladesh Army and
Navy. The Bangladesh Air Force, being the first line of defence for Bangladesh employs around 22,000 full-time personnel, including 1,500 pilots and currently operates around 190
aircraft. Bangladesh Air Force has a territorial role of providing strategic
air transport and logistics capability to Bangladesh. Bangladesh Air Force has been part of major operations such as
Operation Desert Storm,
Gulf War, and
Chittagong Hill Tracts operation. the BAF has been an active participant in
United Nations peacekeeping missions. In Defence IQ 2011 International Fighter Aircraft Conference in London, the Air Force revealed their long-term advancement and procurement plan TO induct seven squadron
fighter jet by 2021.