Bangladesh is actively pursuing a deal with Turkish defense manufacturer Otokar Otomotiv Ve Savunma Sanayi A.S. to acquire 26 Tulpar light tanks, with negotiations reportedly starting in late 2024. This move is part of Bangladesh’s broader strategy to modernize its military capabilities, strengthening its defense infrastructure through strategic partnerships.

• Manufacturer: Otokar, a prominent Turkish defense company, is offering the Tulpar light tanks.
• Quantity: The deal involves the procurement of 26 Tulpar light tanks.
• Timeline: Deliveries are expected to commence in 2025, pending successful negotiations.
• The acquisition aligns with Bangladesh’s ongoing military modernization efforts and builds on its growing defense ties with Turkey, highlighted by prior purchases like the Bayraktar TB2 drones.

Bangladesh, bordered by India to the north, east, and west, the Bay of Bengal to the south, and sharing a 270-kilometer border with Myanmar, plans to deploy these tanks along its frontiers with both India and Myanmar. The public disclosure of this potential deal coincides with Bangladesh’s recent deployment of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones along its border with India, signaling an expansion of its military cooperation with Turkey.

This acquisition underscores Bangladesh’s commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities amid evolving regional dynamics, with the Tulpar tanks expected to bolster its operational readiness.