In a move that could significantly alter the strategic calculus of the Bay of Bengal region, the Bangladesh Navy is reportedly considering the acquisition of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones. This decision follows the successful deployment of the same drones by the Bangladesh Army.
Sources within the defense establishment confirm that the Navy’s aviation wing is assessing both the standard TB2 and its navalized variant, the Bayraktar TB3. The TB3 is designed for launch and recovery on short runways or carrier decks, enhancing operational flexibility at sea or from small bases. If procured, these drones would bolster Bangladesh’s maritime domain awareness and provide precision-strike capabilities in one of Asia’s most geopolitically sensitive waters.
The Bayraktar TB2, developed by Turkey’s Baykar Technology, is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV that has transformed modern warfare with its cost-effective and combat-proven design. The drone is capable of surveillance, reconnaissance, and offensive operations using precision-guided munitions.
Bangladesh first began operating these drones in 2023, acquiring six units for the Army. Another six are currently en route, bringing the total fleet to 12. Their deployment has added a new dimension to Bangladesh’s security apparatus, especially in remote and contested border regions.
Sources indicate that the drones are routinely used for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, as well as precision strikes, allowing Bangladesh to respond swiftly to both conventional threats and asymmetric challenges such as insurgency and cross-border militancy.
The Navy’s interest in the Bayraktar platform stems from its potential to extend surveillance deep into the Bay of Bengal and safeguard maritime trade routes, exclusive economic zones (EEZ), and undersea infrastructure. A naval version, such as the TB3—which was originally designed to operate from the Turkish drone carrier TCG Anadolu—could provide vital aerial cover and strike capability during sea-based operations.
Bangladesh’s expanding drone capabilities are not unfolding in a vacuum. They are taking place amid shifting power dynamics in South Asia, especially with India and China watching closely.
India, already uneasy over Pakistan’s acquisition of similar drones for operations along the Line of Control, has expressed growing concern over Bangladesh’s UAV activity near its eastern border. The Bayraktar TB2, operating from Tejgaon Air Base in Dhaka, was detected by Indian radar systems flying near border regions in Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram—areas that are geopolitically and strategically significant for New Delhi.
According to Indian military officials, a Bayraktar TB2 with the transponder ID TB2R1071 was tracked conducting high-altitude surveillance in late March 2025. Although the drone did not enter Indian airspace, its proximity triggered alarm bells.
“We have the capability to track and shoot down any drone or object that violates India’s airspace,” a senior Indian Air Force official said. “This drone was flying beyond visual range but was picked up by our radar systems.”
India’s defense establishment considers UAV activity near its borders a potential precursor to more extensive ISR operations, and possibly, offensive posturing. The TB2’s involvement in previous conflicts—from Libya to Nagorno-Karabakh to Ukraine—only reinforces these apprehensions.
Security analysts in New Delhi describe the drone incident as part of a broader pattern. Indian radar operators have logged an uptick in UAV activity near the West Bengal border since late 2024, shortly after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh.
The political vacuum in Dhaka was filled by a transitional administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, whose leadership has introduced new variables into India-Bangladesh relations. Once warm diplomatic ties have cooled, and bilateral security cooperation has stalled amid disputes over cross-border crime, trade tariffs, and extradition.
New Delhi is especially concerned by Yunus’ pivot toward China. Beijing has increased its footprint in Bangladesh’s infrastructure and defense sectors, including supplying military hardware, co-financing port projects, and supporting digital surveillance systems.
Unconfirmed reports that China is backing the establishment of a new Bangladeshi airbase in Lalmonirhat—less than 100 kilometers from the Siliguri Corridor—have fueled Indian fears of encirclement.
Known as the “Chicken Neck,” the Siliguri Corridor is a narrow strip of land, about 20 kilometers wide, that connects mainland India to its northeastern states. Any threat to this region is treated as a national security red line.
India has responded by beefing up military infrastructure around the corridor. The deployment of a Rafale squadron at Hashimara Air Base in West Bengal, the installation of S-400 air defense systems, and increased troop presence near the corridor underline its significance.
India’s defense planners view any enhanced UAV or airstrike capability from Bangladesh as a risk multiplier. The potential for a drone-equipped Bangladesh Navy—possibly supported by Chinese advisers or technology—adds urgency to India’s regional security posture.
From Dhaka’s perspective, the growing interest in drones is a logical evolution of its military modernization agenda. The country has long relied on manned reconnaissance flights and satellite imagery provided by allies. The acquisition of MALE drones represents a leap in autonomous defense capability.
However, analysts say Bangladesh is treading a thin line between national interest and regional provocation. While the drones provide enhanced defensive capabilities—particularly against illegal fishing, smuggling, and maritime piracy—their deployment near sensitive zones has obvious implications.
“There’s a legitimate case for using these drones to protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty,” said a defense analyst based in Chattogram. “But that doesn’t mean the optics aren’t problematic when they’re flying just a few kilometers from the Indian border.”
The Bay of Bengal has become a contested space in recent years. India, China, and the U.S. all view the area as critical for trade, naval logistics, and geostrategic influence. With deep-sea ports in Sri Lanka and Myanmar already under Chinese influence, India is concerned about growing Chinese involvement in Bangladeshi defense and infrastructure.
The proposed naval drone acquisition fits into this larger picture. The TB3, in particular, would enable Bangladesh to project limited force at sea and improve real-time maritime surveillance. For a country with a growing economy and a long coastline, the ability to monitor and secure its EEZ is crucial.
But the regional implications are clear. If Bangladesh deploys drones from ships or forward naval bases, it would change the dynamics in the Bay, especially in contested zones such as the vicinity of St. Martin’s Island or near shipping lanes that India and China both consider vital.
The deployment of military drones has become a flashpoint in global diplomacy, from the Middle East to East Asia. In South Asia, where borders are disputed and political trust is fragile, drones introduce new challenges.
India has called for protocols to govern UAV usage near international borders, similar to airspace notification agreements. But with tensions on the rise and dialogue stalled, unilateral action may prevail over cooperative mechanisms.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far declined to comment on the Navy’s procurement plans, only stating that “defense acquisitions are guided by strategic necessity and national interest.”
Turkey, for its part, has promoted the TB2 as a game-changer for mid-sized militaries, and Baykar Technology has found enthusiastic buyers across Africa, Europe, and Asia. The Bangladesh deal is seen in Ankara as a key foothold in South Asia.
For now, the region watches and waits. Whether the Bayraktar drones become tools of deterrence or triggers of conflict will depend largely on how they are used—and how neighbors choose to respond.
The Bangladesh Navy’s consideration of the Bayraktar TB2 and TB3 drones marks a significant shift in the regional balance of power. What began as a tactical tool for the Army is now evolving into a multi-domain strategic asset for the entire Bangladeshi defense apparatus.
