Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
‘ONE STOP’ HARDWARE ACQUISITION TREND IN BANGLADESH NAVY: CHALLENGES AND WAYS FORWARD
Commander K M Emon Rashid, (ND), afwc, psc, BN
Introduction
Dependency on a single country for foreign military hardware acquisition may lead to a trap for any navy. When a navy possesses a majority of a complex affair, there remains no assurance that the single source will
As geopolitics has a major role to play in the present world order and majority of weapon acquisition from a single country may result in the ! " # $ # % & %' ( % $
Present Acquisition Trend of Bangladesh Navy
) * $ % + % from China and the others were from the United Kingdom and only one - / 001 234 % ) $ countries. Most of the ship’s guns are of Chinese origin0. Similarly, majority 6 6 $ 6 + % + $ 6 ) 78 9:0; 0< =>1 6
Factors Leading to Purchase of Majority Naval Equipment from China
( # 7 6 $ %?
Cheaper Weapons: @ 6 purchasing new replica of the USA or Russian weapons with increased B 6 ) ( 6
Table 1: Comparison of Ship Building Cost Cost in Million Dollar China USA % @ ! Spain Russia 200 =H; GG; 9=> =:: 0 L 7 &:GH"H &7 &% &) & * &I 77I' J6-' ' ' ' ' - ? 6 ) 2
- ? 6 2
0 / 6 &9:0< N =' 9 - &9:0< N 0=' 7 O O - ? ?PP P P P 00<:;0=:::9>Q0
235 ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
Simplicity of Operating System: # 6 ( ! I western advanced weapons systems and sensors demand a high level ! ) Budget Constraint: % ! 09 0H1 \ + for maintenance and capital purchase. Considering the cost of new ! force structure. Indigenous Capacity: At present most of the shipyards in Bangladesh are not equipped with the man, machinery and equipment required to ( H G:: @]( " ) - - J @ ! ] \ - J 6 0: ::: @]( - * ! # Problems in Procurement Process: % $ % + of the capital purchase, detail planning is necessary. Due consideration $ ! maintenance support system is existing in navy or whether the running P $ ) $ # !
9H= inexperience participations in tendering, corruptions, nepotism etc may + ( ! ! ! $ ! ! ! $ % of concerned personnel also appear in the scene.
Robustness and Easy of Access: I 6 ) 6 ! ( of the motivating factors for purchasing Chinese hardware.
Case Study 1
% ] ) $ ( % 6 6 ] ) to examine the pattern of capital ship acquisition trend and compare the - I@B3 I 7 ! 4 \ ] B & I 7 #' ) ) - considerations to examine the acquisition trend of a developed yet smaller country in Asia.
While comparing the trend of naval platform acquisition in accordance - % =:1 G=1 ) B S
H - ( &9:0<' B + I@B ! O - ( ? ?PP P P + ! _ I 7 &9:0<' 9:0< \ - O ! O I 7 ? ?PP P
9H; ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
+ `- ] G=1 % 6 \ 6 __1 _91 6 -
Table 2: - 0 7 J Majority of & $ ship from different country ' =:1 3 Russia China Bangladesh 9H1 5 China &__1' China Myanmar 9<1 > China &_91' Singapore Singapore G=1 ; Australia Philippine USA G=1 > USA - ? 6 )
- - " ) $ ( % - & ' ! k % ?
Impact on Supply Chain: Dependency on a single source supplier + ! ) of supplier can lead to the detrimental effect on own supply chain. k and crafts are heavily depended on spares and constant support of
Effect on Product Quality: Quality is a frequently discussed issue 6
9H< Chinese hardware is the cheaper price than that of western counterpart After Sales Service: Most of the Chinese equipment starts ( Chinese suppliers agree to provide warranty service, in reality, the warranty time passes in correspondence and sending defective item 6 ( + Sometimes they also offer up gradation of the system in a very short of supply in terms of spares and after sales service. Obsolescence of Technology: 6 P ( $ # $ ( # ( the other hand, most of the western military manufacturers are private " 5. Arms Race: ) ! massive militarization and promoting mini arms race within developing ( = ( rise in the military spending within the developing countries. Because of ( H \ ) 7 the acquisition of cheaper weapons from China. G \ O 6 &9:0< N 0_' 6 " ) $ &6 k ' = )%@kO( % 6 &0><=' ) O \ ? - ) - B @ 6 ` H_;
9H> ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
Table 3: ( ) ( 9:0G Share of \ 6 & # 1' k# ) k# &1' 0 2nd 3rd USA 33 KSA China Vietnam Russia 25 China Vietnam China G > B ! Bangladesh Myanmar 7 G = Morocco China k I _ ; USA I - ? - BO \ k# 7 - 9:0G
Technology is Determining Tactics: Superiority in technology can ( " @ ! \ k and class of platform and weapon as of adversary does not place in ) $ ( 7 $ % \ % 6 ( % acquisition within a short period.
Role Play by Supplier Country: Procurement of majority hardware % dependent on any single country. As the international politics changes very frequently and there is no permanent friend in international politics, thus today’s friend may turn into a foe tomorrow.
240 S ( * states. As a result, states create alliances to protect each other’s interest. ( + countries are normally inclined towards own interest while supporting
Impact on Indigenous Capacity Building: k ! @ # ! ;.
Challenges to Shift from Chinese Hardware Acquisition Trend: \ ( is a western origin country. Besides, there are few more challenges that might arise while shifting from the present acquisition trend.
Figure 1: - R6 6 " ) $ ( S
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9_0 ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
Requirement of Increased Budget: ) $ ( $ $ % Maintenance and Availability of Spares: Acquisition of ships from different countries will lead to the requirement of more line ( Managing more line items will also add the cost of additional manpower and overhead cost. Moreover, purchasing from a single supplier ( + # agreement. Again, in certain major faults expert of the company has to ! companies will charge more than the Chinese ones. Training: @ $ $ # ( k pressure is not a once in a life cycle issue. Rather to maintain continuous # # <. Cost Degradation: Multi sourcing policy helps in price negotiation. " 6 ( ) 6 of suppliers in the world can easily accommodate less demand within their huge production line. Many of the western suppliers will not >. < - ) 6 &9:0< \ _' ) ( % &6 k ' > ] - &9:0G N 0G' ( O ? ?PP $ P P
242 Western Business Culture: ( 6 the western counterpart. Relationships with long term cooperation S ! ! - ! ( ! ( #
Reduction of Vacancies and effect on Morale: A prudent British naval commentator forecasted that these quality centric small navy is ? P( $ & ' # # # ! Q " $ $ *
Alternatives of One Stop Hardware Acquisition Trend
Considering the adverse effect of single source procurement trend, it is ( + % in terms of hardware.
Implementation of Pragmatic Process: Shifting from Chinese origin $ 7 ?
Indigenous Ship Building: construction of ships, repair, and maintenance will provide immense % )
243 ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
( % - speed diesel engine productions will also provide direct relief to the %S ( # % # # warships. Bangladeshi naval architects, mechanical engineers, welders, # !
Inter-Governmental Commission on Technical Cooperation: ( O \ O &\ k# 9:0<'
Joint Development and Production: + 6 + 6
# ) # + + O 9
Senior Leadership Training to Read the Mind of Western Counterpart: 7 $ ( #
Government Initiative to Change Mindset: P\ ! Q k \
244 % % ( ! mindset from the cheaper hardware of China to the more qualitative 0: )
Figure 2: - R7 N %S
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Battle Proven Technology Acquisition: Acquisition of new ! 7 technology costs disproportionately high and unproven technology " % ! ! ( % !
Holistic Framework for Sustainable Force Development: B ! ( pragmatic enough, considering the challenges and long term effects. 7 0: % " &9:0< - 00' 6 " $ &6 k '
245 ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
Implementation of Deferred Payment: Capital purchase from 6 ( 00 \ engagements and defence dialogues with the seller country will ease the process of procurement.
Figure 3: Proposed Acquisition System
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00 " 6 &9:0< - 00' 6 " ) $ &6 k '
9_= Recommendations
) ! R - S $ %
Figure 4: Recommendations
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Short Term Measures
Navy Level Research: ) # % ] Pk hardware acquisition.
Change of Mindset: A change in mindset from highest to naval ! # R - S ) I ! \ 6 % #
9_; ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward
Increase Budget of BN: % I $ P $ P
Frequent Senior Leadership Visit: - I % $ I
Strategic Level Procurement Committee: ( form a strategic level defense procurement committee for pragmatic
Pursue Battle Proven Acquisition: % might have an upper edge over our potential adversary’s same category P P
Intermediate Measures
Establish Military Hardware Industry: ( P P
Pursue Deferred Payment System: ] Pk
Indigenous Joint Venture Capital Shipbuilding: % 6@@J N ] + P P
9_< Inter-Governmental Commission on Defence Co-operation: An I 6 ( 6 + % P O @ B !
Long Term Measures
Indigenous Capital Ship Building with Technology Transfer: ) # + % ( (
Agreement/Treaty with Western Commercial Manufacturers: ( I % P ] Pk P P manufacture at own industries.
Conclusion
Dependency on a single country for foreign military hardware acquisition O % S $ 6 ( 6 % J !
As geopolitics has a major role to play in the present world order and
9_> ‘One Stop’ Hardware Acquisition Trend in Bangladesh Navy: Challenges and Ways Forward majority of weapon acquisition from a single country may result in a crisis ! 6 acquisition encompasses degradation of overall quality, unsatisfactory
( ) $ ) management of the additional line of spares and increased training # \ #
Considering the adverse effect of single source procurement trend, it is the 6 + $ many ways out in this aspect.
Bibliography Books
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250 Internet Sources
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Journals
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