Bangladesh to Spend Tk380 Crore on MiG-29 Engine Repairs

by Shahriar Alam.

Bangladesh is facing a critical operational challenge with only 6 of 20 engines working for its eight MiG-29 fighter jets. The government plans to spend approximately Tk380 crore ($30.6 million) to repair, overhaul, and extend the lifespan of 12 non-functional engines through a contract with Russian firm JSC NASC.

The Air Force, which requires a minimum of 16 engines to operate its MiG-29 fleet, selected JSC NASC as the most qualified and cost-effective bidder after a competitive tender process. The payment will be distributed over four fiscal years (FY25-FY28) due to budget constraints.

Four of the eight jets were previously overhauled with service life extended until 2030, while the remaining four are currently being serviced in Belarus with expected completion by October 2025. Repair efforts have been delayed for nearly three years due to complications from the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Bangladesh Air Force currently operates a total of 212 aircraft, including 44 fighter jets.