To implement Forces Goal-2030, the government is planning to purchase seven K-8W jet trainer aircraft with spare parts and maintenance equipment to strengthen the training activities of the Air Force, according to government sources. The training aircraft are likely to be purchased from China under a state-to-state deal. They will be purchase in two phases—FY 2017–18 and FY 2018-19—the sources added. The purchase of the aircraft will require about Tk 650 crore, which the Air Force will arrange from its own sources. The director of air intelligence of the Air Force, Hassan Mahmood Khan, told The Independent that they are purchasing the K-8W jet trainer aircraft to train their pilots. “We already this type of training aircraft and these would be added to out fleet,” he said.

He also said that L-39ZA training aircraft would be gradually phased out after the purchase of the seven K-8W jet trainer aircraft. For purchasing the jet trainer aircraft, an 11-member joint committee, headed by the Air Vice Martial of the Air Force, has been formed. The other members are from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Finance Division, Economic Relations Division (ERD), foreign ministry, law ministry and the National Board of Revenue (NBR), among others.

The committee will decide how the seven aircraft would be purchased from abroad under the government-to-government deal. It will prepare the agreement in this regard and also fix the prices of the aircraft through “price negotiations”. Sources said that the jet trainer aircraft can be used during war.