Bangladesh Army ADHOC Air Defence Corps and Procurement of New Air Defence Radar Systems The Bangladesh Army ADHOC Air Defence Corps was established in November 2024 to strengthen the country’s air defense capabilities. This initiative is part of the Forces Goal 2030 program which has been ongoing since 2009 and was updated in 2017. Formation and Objectives of the ADHOC Air Defence Corps.
Formation Date and Background: On November 11. 2024. the Bangladesh Army officially established the ADHOC Air Defence Corps by handing over its flag. The Corps operates as a distinct entity within the Army dedicated to air defense. Its primary objective is to protect the country’s airspace particularly against threats such as drones low-altitude wings and other aerial threats. The Corps is headquartered at Mirpur Cantonment and plans to incorporate various ranges of air defense systems.
Modernization Plan: The Corps is planning to procure short medium and long-range air defense systems including radar systems missile systems and an integrated air defense network. Since January 2025 news regarding the modernization of the Corps has been published including the issuance of an evaluation notice for radar procurement from European countries.
Details of the New Air Defence Radar Systems: The Bangladesh Army is planning to procure Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar systems from European countries particularly France Italy the United Kingdom and Switzerland These radars will be vehicle-mounted for easy deployment to any location. They will have a maximum range of 300 kilometers or more and will be integrated with long-range air defense missile systems indicating the arrival of medium and medium-to-long-range air defense missile systems.
Key Radar Systems Under Consideration:
Thales Ground Master 400/403
This is a 3D long-range air surveillance radar with AESA technology developed by the French Thales Group.
The Bangladesh Army procured two units in 2021 with delivery completed by the end of 2022.
Detection range: Up to 470 kilometers for large targets but approximately 300 kilometers for smaller targets like drones or low-RCS (Radar Cross Section) objects.
The radar is mounted on 6×6 trucks MAN or similar European vehicles) for rapid mobility.
It is capable of tracking stealth and low altitude targets and can be integrated with Bangladesh’s air defense network.
In 2025 the Bangladesh Air Force also inducted the GM403M indicating potential upgrades or additional procurement for the Army Corps.
Leonardo KRONOS Land:
An AESA radar developed by Italy’s Leonardo company previously procured for the Bangladesh Air Force in 2019.
The Army is also considering this mobile surveillance radar with a range of over 300 kilometers vehicle-mounted for mobility.
Other European Options:
In June 2025 the Bangladesh Army sent a delegation to the United Kingdom to evaluate the Sky Sabre system and related radars Giraffe AESA).
Negotiations are underway with Switzerland for the procurement of the Oerlikon GDF-009 air defense system (including radar).
In September 2024 a Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system and a mobile air surveillance radar were procured from a European country.
Procurement Process and Evaluation Notice Evaluation Notice:
The Directorate General Defence Purchase (DGDP) issued an evaluation notice for AESA radar procurement from European countries. On September 8, 2025 a DGDP tender notice was published specifying radar requirements including a minimum detection range of 60 kilometers (for a 1 m² RCS target) A separate tender for long-range radars is also in progress These systems must interface with Bangladesh’s air defense network (using UDP/TCP protocols) under the Forces Goal 2030 framework with such notices issued regularly.
Procurement Cost and Timeline:
Specific costs have not been disclosed but similar systems have previously cost approximately BDT 7.3 billion (around €60 million) The procurement process is expected to be completed between 2025 and 2030.
Integration with Missile Systems and Future Plans: The radars will be integrated with long-range missile systems supporting medium (50–100 km) and medium-to-long-range (100–300 km) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems. The Bangladesh Army has already procured MRSAM and VSHORAD systems from China Turkey and Europe and is considering long-range SAM systems such as Aster or CAMM.
Challenges and Strategy:
Due to regional tensions including India-China border issues and conflicts in Myanmar this procurement is deemed urgent. The Bangladesh Army is diversifying its suppliers reducing dependence on China and leaning toward European suppliers.
Visual Description:
The radar systems such as the Thales Ground Master series feature large AESA radar antennas mounted on 6×6 military trucks (likely MAN or similar European models) These vehicle-mounted mobile air defense systems are ideal for the Bangladesh Army new Corps.
