Bangladesh Navy Partners with General Atomics AeroTec for Do228 Fleet Maintenance Contract
The enduring fruitful partnership between the Bangladesh Navy (BN) and General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) persists with a new maintenance agreement encompassing extensive upkeep, pilot instruction, and modernization. The contract includes all-encompassing services for two Do228 special mission aircraft operated by the Bangladesh Navy.
Effective operation of the Do228 in Bangladesh for more than a decade
The Bangladesh Navy is a veteran operator of the Do228, managing a fleet of four Do228 aircraft. The first two planes were supplied to the Southeast Asian nation in 2013 and have been in service for over a decade, carrying out a diverse array of special missions such as reconnaissance flights, maritime surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), as well as paratrooper deployment.
Owing to the outstanding mission effectiveness, a few years later, two additional Do228 were acquired by the Bangladesh Navy to expand their fleet. These aircraft were handed over to the client in late 2021 and mid-2022. Notably, they marked the first Do228 aircraft manufactured and delivered by General Atomics AeroTec Systems following its takeover of the Do228 program and the production facility in Oberpfaffenhofen.
Upgrades for maintenance and surveillance radar for Do228 aircraft
Currently, the Do228 OEM General Atomics AeroTec Systems and the Bangladesh Navy have entered into a detailed maintenance agreement for two aircraft. The two Do228, delivered in 2013, will undergo thorough maintenance including a 72-month inspection and a 12-year structural assessment at General Atomics AeroTec Systems’ service center in Germany.
As an aspect of the upgrade initiative, one Do228 will also be outfitted with advanced surveillance radar technology from Hensoldt. This enhancement will further bolster the operational capabilities of the adaptable multi-role aircraft, which the BN utilizes for maritime patrol and a broad spectrum of special operations within the nation’s territorial waters.
Pilot instruction with the OEM
As part of the agreement, a thorough training program has been developed to provide further instruction for the Bangladesh Navy pilots and maintenance staff. Pilot training will be conducted using the cutting-edge Do228 flight simulator at GA-ATS’s training center in Germany. Moreover, operational training for the newly installed Hensoldt surveillance radar system will also be included.
