The Bangladesh government is planning to purchase 20 Chinese-made J-10CE multirole fighter jets in a deal worth approximately $2.2 billion, an interim government official announced. The move is aimed at modernizing the Bangladesh Air Force and enhancing the nation's air defense capabilities.
Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, the youth and sports adviser in the interim administration, confirmed in a statement on the social media platform X that Dhaka is considering the acquisition from China under a government-to-government agreement.
According to official documents cited by The Business Standard, the cost includes $1.2 billion for the 20 aircraft, an additional $820 million for training, equipment, and freight, and other maintenance costs, bringing the total to $2.2 billion. The payment plan is expected to be spread over ten fiscal years.
The potential purchase was reportedly a topic of discussion during interim leader Muhammad Yunus's visit to China earlier this year, where Beijing was said to have "responded positively" to the proposal.
The J-10CE, a fourth-generation fighter developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, has recently gained significant attention. Its performance was highlighted during the India-Pakistan clashes in May, where the Pakistan Air Force deployed the jets. Pakistan military officials have praised the aircraft's performance, with spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry telling Bloomberg News that "recent Chinese platforms, they’ve demonstrated exceptionally well." According to reports, it was the first time the J-10Cs and their PL-15 missiles were used in combat.
The Bangladesh Air Force currently operates 212 aircraft, which includes a fleet of 44 fighter jets, 36 of which are older Chinese-made F-7 models. This new acquisition would represent a significant technological upgrade.
The regional military landscape remains dynamic. The Indian Air Force has contested Pakistan's claims, with Air Chief Marshal A P Singh stating there was "clear evidence of long-range Indian strikes" inside Pakistan during the conflict. In a related development, the U.S. Defense Department announced that defense contractor Raytheon will supply Pakistan with advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM).
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