Bangladesh Navy Teams Up with General Atomics AeroTec for Do228 Aircraft Care Initiative

The lasting, productive collaboration between the Bangladesh Navy (BN) and General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) continues with a fresh maintenance contract that covers comprehensive upkeep, pilot training, and modernization efforts. The agreement encompasses extensive services for two specialized Do228 aircraft utilized by the Bangladesh Navy.

Successful operation of the Do228 in Bangladesh for over ten years

The Bangladesh Navy is an experienced operator of the Do228, overseeing a fleet comprising four Do228 aircraft. The initial two planes were delivered to the Southeast Asian country in 2013 and have been operational for more than ten years, executing a wide range of specialized missions such as reconnaissance flights, maritime surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuations (MEDEVAC), and paratrooper deployment.

Due to the remarkable operational success, several years later, two further Do228 aircraft were acquired by the Bangladesh Navy to enhance their fleet. These additional aircraft were transferred to the client in late 2021 and mid-2022. Notably, they represented the inaugural Do228 manufactured and supplied by General Atomics AeroTec Systems after its acquisition of the Do228 program and the production facility in Oberpfaffenhofen.

Enhancements for maintenance and surveillance radar on Do228 aircraft

Currently, the Do228 OEM General Atomics AeroTec Systems and the Bangladesh Navy have finalized a comprehensive maintenance agreement for two aircraft. The two Do228, delivered in 2013, will undergo extensive maintenance including a 72-month inspection and a 12-year structural evaluation at General Atomics AeroTec Systems’ service center in Germany.

As part of the enhancement initiative, one Do228 will also be fitted with state-of-the-art surveillance radar technology from Hensoldt. This upgrade will further enhance the operational capabilities of the versatile multi-role aircraft, which the BN employs for maritime patrol and a wide array of special operations within the nation’s territorial waters.

Pilot training with the OEM

As part of the agreement, a comprehensive training curriculum has been outlined to provide additional training for the Bangladesh Navy pilots and maintenance personnel. Pilot training will be conducted using the advanced Do228 flight simulator at GA-ATS’s training center in Germany. Additionally, operational training for the newly integrated Hensoldt surveillance radar system will also be included.