Will Bangladesh Follow Pakistan in Acquiring Chinese-Made J-10C Fighter Jets?

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Bangladesh is poised to become the second South Asian nation, after Pakistan, to acquire Chinese-made fighter jets, with Dhaka reportedly expressing interest in procuring the J-10C, a fourth-generation fighter aircraft.

According to local media reports, the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) is planning to purchase 16 units of the J-10C fighter jet.

Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan has emphasized the need to bolster the air force’s capabilities.

“We are making every effort to acquire advanced fighter jets and attack helicopters,” he was quoted as saying, underscoring the BAF’s interest in the J-10C.

The planned acquisition of 16 J-10C jets marks the first phase of procurement, with additional units to follow in subsequent phases.

In August, media reports indicated that China had offered the J-10C to Bangladesh to replace its aging fleet of F-7 fighter jets, which were also supplied by China.

In 2022, Pakistan confirmed its purchase of 25 J-10C fighter jets from Chengdu Aircraft Corporation to counterbalance India’s acquisition of 36 Rafale jets.

Beyond South Asia, Egypt has also reportedly decided to acquire the J-10C to replace its aging U.S.-made F-16 fighters, while Azerbaijan has shown interest, with its air force commander taking a closer look on the fighter aircraft during the recent Airshow China in Zhuhai.

The J-10C, first unveiled to the Chinese public in July 2017 and operational since 2018, features significant advancements over earlier variants.

It is lighter, harder to detect, and equipped with a more powerful engine. The jet boasts an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, enhancing its target detection capabilities.

Regional military observers estimate that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) operates around 150 J-10C jets.

International defense analysts compare the J-10C to the U.S.-made F-16 but note that it incorporates design elements from Israel’s cancelled Lavi aircraft program.

Pakistan’s J-10C variant comes equipped with cutting-edge systems, including AESA radar and beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles like the PL-15.

Developed with Russian expertise, the PL-15 missile reportedly has an effective range of 200 to 300 kilometers and is considered a competitor to the U.S.-made AIM-120 AMRAAM.

China has also outfitted the J-10C with domestically produced WS-10C engines instead of Russian Saturn AL-31F engines, reducing dependency on Russian components and simplifying sales to international clients like Pakistan.

As Bangladesh moves closer to finalizing its procurement, the acquisition of the J-10C may signal a significant shift in the region’s air power dynamics. – DSA