Dhaka: Bangladesh has signed a government-to-government agreement with China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) International to locally assemble advanced drones for the Bangladesh Air Force, officials said.
According to Bangladesh Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the deal covers the production and assembly of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) systems inside Bangladesh.
The agreement also includes technology transfer, workforce training and the establishment of local assembly facilities, aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s domestic aerospace and defence capabilities.
Under the initial phase, the Bangladesh Air Force will gain the capacity to assemble multiple drone variants, with plans to gradually move toward locally designed platforms.
ISPR said the project will enhance industrial skills, technical cooperation and operational readiness. The drones are expected to support military missions as well as disaster response and humanitarian operations.
Officials said the initiative is part of Dhaka’s broader strategy to expand indigenous manufacturing and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers.
The signing ceremony was held at Air Headquarters in Dhaka in the presence of senior Bangladesh Air Force officials and CETC representatives.
