Bangladesh Navy frigate program
{{short description|Class of guided-missile frigates for the Bangladesh Navy currently under development}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = To be determined | Builders = Chittagong Dry Dock Limited | Operators = Bangladesh Navy | Type = Multirole Guided
| Operation Dimensions = | Subclasses = | Budget of program = 2.5 billion | Prospects of the program = | Program end year = | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = 6 | Total ships completed = | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships scrapped = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Ship type = Frigate | Ship displacement = 4,000 tons | Ship length = | Ship beam = | Ship draft = | Ship propulsion = | Ship speed = | Ship range = | Any choice = | Ship complement = | Ship firing capability = | Air armament = | Anti-ship armanent = | Land armament = | Special armament = | Ship sensors = *Radars | Ship EW = * Electronic countermeasure (ECM) | Ship armament = *Naval artillery | Ship boats = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = Flight deck and enclosed helicopter hangar }} |
The Bangladesh Navy Frigate Program is a planned project to build 6 multi-role stealth guided missile frigates for the Bangladesh Navy. In 2017, a plan for the frigate project under the Forces Goal 2030 plan was officially announced. The Bangladesh Navy is inspecting proposals from several companies to evolve their designs into a prospective design for the six proposed frigates.{{cite web |title=From buyer to builder
|url=https://m.theindependentbd.com//printversion/details/132541 |website=theindependent |date=14 January 2018 | access-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727105506/https://m.theindependentbd.com//printversion/details/132541|archive-date=27 July 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Bangladesh Navy To Build 6 Guided Missile Frigates Indigenously
|url= https://www.defenseworld.net/news/19885/Bangladesh_Navy_To_Build_6_Guided_Missile_Frigates_Indigenously#.YP_tC-pDYzR
|website=Defense World |date=14 July 2017| access-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727113112/https://www.defenseworld.net/news/19885/Bangladesh_Navy_To_Build_6_Guided_Missile_Frigates_Indigenously|archive-date=27 July 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=From buyer to builder
|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/navy-turn-builder-buyer-1509823 |website=The Daily Star |date=25 December 2017 | access-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523002926/https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/navy-turn-builder-buyer-1509823|archive-date=23 May 2021|url-status=live}}
Development
Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL) was selected as the prime contractor for the Bangladesh Navy's frigate program, however, no further progress has been made. The frigates were supposed to be equipped with state-of-the-art military hardware, sensors, and electronic warfare systems. The lifespan of each frigate was estimated to be 30 years on average. The project has been delayed due to financial, geo-political and recent changes in foreign policies. At the beginning of the project, it was estimated that all of the frigates would be built with Chinese technical assistance and complete transfer of technology but the program was revised in 2017, following the Rohingya refugee crisis. In 2018, Commodore Mohammad Nazmul Karim said that two frigates would be commissioned in 2022, two by 2025 and two by 2030. However, the Bangladesh Navy added significant new requirements to the project mainly to adhere to NATO standards. As a result, many renowned European shipbuilding companies have shown interest. The project has become a major priority of the Ministry of Defence and the Prime Minister's Office. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, any frigate built under this project cannot be inducted into the navy before 2036 at the earliest. At the moment, the implementation of the program seems uncertain.{{cite web |title=OBJECTIVE
|url=https://www.cddl.gov.bd/AboutUs/objective |website= Chittagong Dry Dock Limited |access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=Warships to be built at Bangladesh shipyards in future: PM
|url=https://www.banglanews24.com/english/national/news/bd/87479.details |website=The Daily Star |date=30 December 2020 |access-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126080855/https://www.banglanews24.com/english/national/news/bd/87479.details|archive-date=26 January 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Building warships locally |url=https://www.theindependentbd.com/post/141957 |website=The Independent Bangladesh |access-date=26 July 2021}}
Current progress
Although for now the program is officially active, albeit without any actual funding or budget, there has been no actual progress. Similarly, as in previous years there has been no mention of the frigate program nor any funds allocated for the program in the 2024-2025 annual budget.