Through a brief statement published on official channels, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it sold one of its decommissioned Echo-class survey vessels to the Bangladesh Navy, specifically the one that bore the name HMS Enterprise. Without detailing the amounts required to bring the operation to completion, the British government indicated that the sale is part of an effort to strengthen ties between the two countries, thereby enhancing the naval capabilities of a London partner in the Indo-Pacific.
In particular, the news was announced on February 8, following the signing of the corresponding agreement at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Navy. At the event, it was stated that the vessel would provide the institution with a new capability to conduct survey operations, humanitarian support, and emergency response to natural disasters. In addition, it is worth noting that the ship would have the capabilities to support hydrographic and oceanographic research missions, which is expected to contribute to scientific projects developed by local universities.
Referring to this, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, stated: “The sale of this survey vessel reflects the deep trust and strong cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh. HMS Enterprise gave distinguished service to the Royal Navy, and we are proud to see it begin a new chapter supporting Bangladesh’s maritime capability and our shared commitment to a safe and prosperous Bay of Bengal.” The ceremony was also attended by local naval authorities, including Admiral M. Nazmul Hassan and Rear Admiral Jahangir Adil Samdany, Chief and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff respectively.
It should also be recalled at this point that the vessel in question has a sister ship named HMS Echo, whose retirement also took place earlier than originally planned by the Royal Navy; namely, in 2028. As occurred with HMS Enterprise, the ship had a sudden end following what the service indicated as the emergence of research platforms with lower maintenance costs, a factor that affected the Echo class in meeting British certification standards. It is believed that with the application of less strict standards, and even the potential purchase of this second vessel for spare parts acquisition, Bangladesh would obtain a platform in good condition and with several years of remaining service life.
Moreover, if the lens is widened to other areas of defense, it is worth noting that Bangladesh has also been the recipient of a fleet composed of five Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft that previously belonged to the Royal Air Force (RAF). Acquired in batches of two (2018) and three aircraft (2019), the Asian country incorporated the aircraft in order to reinforce its transport and humanitarian assistance capabilities, these being platforms with nearly three decades in service. The United Kingdom, for its part, moved forward with the purchase of A400M aircraft to replace them and the other C-130Js put up for sale in 2022.
*Image credits: British High Commission in Bangladesh – Royal Navy
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