(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a landmark move that underscores Bangladesh’s determination to modernize its military under Forces Goal 2030, Dhaka is pressing ahead with plans to acquire 20 Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighter jets from China in a deal estimated at $2.2 billion. 

The acquisition represents the single largest aviation procurement in the nation’s history and a turning point for the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) as it transitions into the 4.5-generation fighter era.

Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, the Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh, revealed last month that the nation’s interim government had granted in-principle approval for the acquisition of advanced multirole combat and strike aircraft, along with new surface-to-air missile systems and long-range radar capabilities.

Payments will be structured over a ten-year period, concluding in the 2035–36 fiscal year, while deliveries are expected to be completed by 2027.

The proposal follows Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s official visit to Beijing in March 2025, during which Chinese leaders expressed strong support for Dhaka’s modernization efforts.

An 11-member inter-ministerial committee led by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan has been formed to finalize the purchase, evaluate contract terms, and supervise financing, logistics, training, and industrial cooperation frameworks.

Although financial officials have refrained from confirming details, the interim government’s in-principle approval suggests that the deal has advanced to its decisive phase.

The planned procurement also reflects Beijing’s growing success in exporting fourth and fifth-generation combat aircraft to developing nations, positioning China as a direct competitor to Western and Russian suppliers in South Asia’s fast-evolving defence market.

For Bangladesh, the deal marks a decisive break from its historical dependence on Russian and Western systems, signaling a broader strategic realignment toward Chinese defence technology ecosystems encompassing radar, missile, and electronic warfare integration.

Defence analysts believe that the J-10CE’s induction will not only strengthen Bangladesh’s deterrence posture against potential aerial incursions but also enhance its maritime strike capability over the Bay of Bengal, where energy and trade routes are increasingly contested.

Moreover, the agreement is expected to include provisions for long-term industrial collaboration with Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), laying the foundation for future maintenance, overhaul, and technology-transfer initiatives that could nurture Bangladesh’s nascent aerospace industry.

BANGLADESH AIR FORCE AT A CROSSROADS

Formed in 1971, the BAF currently operates about 212 aircraft, of which 81 perform combat duties — a force composition heavily weighted toward legacy Chinese and Russian designs.

Its front line includes 46 Chengdu F-7 BG/BG1/MB interceptors (variants of the MiG-21 Fishbed), eight MiG-29B/UB fighters, 12 Yak-130 light attack trainers, and 15 K-8W Karakorum advanced jet trainers.

Many of these platforms, particularly the F-7 series, are approaching obsolescence and suffer from chronic maintenance and reliability issues.

A tragic F-7 crash in July 2025 that killed 36 people in Dhaka highlighted the urgent need to retire the aging fleet and replace it with modern and safer aircraft.

Under Forces Goal 2030, Bangladesh has embarked on a multi-phase modernization program to establish two squadrons of advanced multirole fighters capable of conducting air superiority, precision strike, and maritime defence missions.

The initiative is also strategic in nature, designed to protect the country’s limited airspace flanked by India and Myanmar and secure the vital Bay of Bengal corridor.

Recent acquisitions of Chinese Type-15 light tanks and Type-035G submarines already reflect Dhaka’s shift toward Beijing as its preferred defence partner, balancing cost with capability and technology transfer potential.

The BAF has outlined an extended roadmap called “BAF 2040,” envisioning a networked air force integrating AESA radars, data links, and beyond-visual-range missiles as standard combat elements.

The introduction of the J-10CE would accelerate this ambitious vision by placing Bangladesh among a select group of Asian air forces fielding 4.5-generation fighters.

DETAILS OF THE DEAL

The $2.2 billion package allocates about $60 million per aircraft, totaling $1.2 billion for the 20 jets alone, while the remaining $820 million covers training, logistics, support equipment, spare parts, transport, insurance, and infrastructure.

Initial deliveries are anticipated within 24 to 30 months of contract signing, subject to final configuration negotiations with Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group.

Procurement will be phased through the 2025–26 and 2026–27 fiscal years, with progressive budget allocations approved by the Finance Division.

While earlier proposals floated numbers ranging from 12 to 32 jets, the finalized figure of 20 represents a balanced approach to cost and operational readiness — sufficient to equip two fully functional squadrons.

The procurement structure is likely to follow a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement, ensuring long-term maintenance support and training integration with China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) ecosystem.

Dhaka is also considering a separate technical cooperation agreement for pilot conversion training, ground crew certification, and spare part sustainment to avoid previous logistical bottlenecks experienced with Russian equipment.

THE CHENGDU J-10CE: A “VIGOROUS DRAGON” FOR BANGLADESH

The J-10CE is the export variant of China’s indigenous J-10C “Vigorous Dragon,” a single-engine 4.5-generation fighter that combines modern aerodynamics with digital avionics and network-centric warfare capabilities.

It employs a delta-canard configuration and fly-by-wire flight controls, offering superb agility and high angle-of-attack maneuverability comparable to Western designs such as the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.

Equipped with an AESA radar believed to be the KLJ-7A, the aircraft can track up to 15 targets and engage six simultaneously under dense electronic warfare conditions.

It has a top speed of Mach 1.8 (2,200 km/h), a range of 1,850 kilometres, and a combat radius of 1,240 kilometres — enabling the BAF to conduct deep-strike missions across the Bay of Bengal and border zones without aerial refuelling.

The aircraft features 11 external hardpoints capable of carrying a mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance, including the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile with a reach of up to 200 kilometres, and the PL-10 infrared-guided missile for close-range dogfights.

These capabilities mark a quantum leap over the F-7’s obsolete PL-5 and PL-8 armament, bringing the BAF into a new era of beyond-visual-range (BVR) warfare.

Electronic countermeasures and data-link systems further integrate the J-10CE into China’s combat networks, allowing real-time information sharing with KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft — a capability Beijing could extend to Dhaka as part of training support.

The J-10CE has already proven its operational maturity with the Pakistan Air Force, which employed it effectively during the May 2025 four-day border clash with India, where it reportedly achieved superior radar lock ranges against Rafale fighters.

Military analysts describe it as a cost-effective bridge between third-generation legacy jets and fifth-generation stealth platforms, giving smaller air forces access to cutting-edge combat features without the financial burden of Western alternatives.

REASONS FOR CHOOSING THE J-10CE

Bangladesh’s decision is driven by a blend of economic realities, operational compatibility, and strategic alignment.

The J-10CE is significantly cheaper than its Western counterparts — with unit costs roughly half those of a Dassault Rafale and a third of a F-35A — while offering comparable multirole functionality.

BAF technicians and pilots already possess experience with Chinese airframes and avionics, making transition training faster and maintenance more efficient.

The aircraft’s AESA radar and PL-15 missiles address Bangladesh’s long-standing gap in BVR combat capability, providing it with a credible deterrent against potential airspace violations.

Geostrategically, the acquisition strengthens Beijing’s position as Dhaka’s principal defence supplier and extends China’s aerospace footprint along India’s periphery.

With Pakistan already operating J-10C squadrons and Myanmar fielding JF-17 Block III jets, Bangladesh’s purchase could create a triangular network of Chinese-equipped air forces encircling India’s eastern and western flanks.

For Dhaka, the move is as much about deterrence as about symbolism — demonstrating its commitment to technological modernization and sovereign defence choices despite external pressure.

Western sources previously claimed that the United States had declined Bangladesh’s interest in F-16s and advanced trainers, citing human-rights and end-use concerns, pushing Dhaka further toward Chinese alternatives.

Beijing, by contrast, offered favorable financing, technology transfer promises, and expedited delivery timelines — a package that fits Bangladesh’s limited defence budget and urgent needs.

GEOSTRATEGIC AND REGIONAL IMPACT

The deal has wide-ranging implications for the South Asian security architecture.

India, already wary of China’s deepening defence relations with Pakistan and Myanmar, will likely view Bangladesh’s alignment as a strategic encroachment on its eastern flank.

The Bay of Bengal, previously a relatively quiet maritime front, could see an emerging three-way dynamic involving India, China, and Bangladesh, each expanding air and naval footprints for power projection.

China’s support for Bangladesh is not purely commercial; it advances Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) objectives and enhances its influence along critical sea-lanes from the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia.

The integration of J-10CEs with China-supplied early-warning systems and surface-to-air missiles could gradually tie Bangladesh into a regional security architecture that leans more toward Beijing than Washington.

Defence analysts note that the move may complicate U.S. and NATO engagement in the Bay of Bengal, where Bangladesh has traditionally maintained a non-aligned but West-friendly stance.

For India, the emergence of modern Chinese fighters in Dhaka’s inventory presents a new strategic calculus that could force the Indian Air Force to expand its eastern infrastructure and maintain additional squadrons in Assam and West Bengal.

At the same time, Bangladesh’s modernization efforts could spur defence competition among smaller South Asian states, encouraging Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Maldives to enhance security ties with either China or India.

POTENTIAL RISKS AND CHALLENGES

Despite its advantages, the deal is not without controversy and risk.

Bangladesh has previously faced technical difficulties with Chinese hardware, including spare-part shortages and inconsistent after-sales support for the F-7 fleet and naval vessels.

Ensuring supply-chain resilience for critical components and establishing a domestic maintenance hub will be crucial to avoid dependence that could undermine operational readiness.

There are also concerns that the J-10CE’s single engine configuration may limit survivability over maritime or mountainous terrain, although its reliability record with the Pakistan Air Force has so far been positive.

Politically, the deal could invite pressure from Western partners and donor institutions, particularly if the financing involves Chinese credit lines linked to BRI infrastructure projects.

Nonetheless, for Bangladesh’s leadership, the J-10CE represents a statement of strategic autonomy — a message that Dhaka intends to chart its own defence path amid intensifying great-power competition.

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

The Bangladesh Air Force explored multiple options before narrowing its choice.

In May 2025, a BAF delegation visited Italy to observe the Eurofighter Typhoon, while earlier feasibility studies examined the Dassault Rafale and even the Pakistan-Chinese JF-17 Thunder Block III.

However, the high procurement and lifecycle costs of European fighters, combined with export restrictions and limited industrial cooperation offers, made the J-10CE the most viable solution.

The JF-17, though affordable, was considered less capable in avionics, payload, and performance compared to the J-10CE’s more powerful WS-10B engine and advanced radar.

By choosing the J-10CE, Bangladesh effectively leapfrogs a generation of technology and aligns itself with China’s ongoing military-industrial evolution, which is increasingly competing with Western standards.

LOOKING AHEAD

If finalized, the J-10CE deal will redefine Bangladesh’s air force for decades.

By 2027, the Bangladesh Air Force could possess a credible multirole fleet capable of long-range interception, maritime strike, and precision ground attack — missions previously beyond its reach.

This modernization will also transform pilot training, base infrastructure, and operational doctrine, pushing the BAF toward joint-force integration and network-centric warfare.

Strategically, the acquisition places Bangladesh squarely within the evolving power matrix of the Indo-Pacific, where small and medium states leverage advanced technology to maintain balance between major powers.

Observers note that this deal could also serve as a catalyst for future acquisitions such as KJ-500 AEW&C aircraft, Y-20 strategic transports, or even HQ-9B long-range air-defence systems to complete the ecosystem.

As the negotiations progress, Dhaka’s balancing act between affordability, autonomy, and alignment will determine whether the “Vigorous Dragon” becomes a symbol of national pride or a test of strategic endurance.

READ: “Rafale Killers on Two Fronts?”: Bangladesh Eyes Chinese J-10C After Pakistan’s Shock Air Combat Performance

CONCLUSION

The prospective $2.2 billion acquisition of 20 Chinese J-10CE fighters stands as a defining milestone in Bangladesh’s pursuit of modern air power.

It encapsulates the country’s broader ambition to evolve from a tactical air force to a technologically advanced, networked, and regionally relevant military player.

For Beijing, it is another victory in China’s expanding defence diplomacy across South Asia, reinforcing its status as the region’s premier arms supplier.

For Dhaka, it signals confidence, independence, and the readiness to defend its sovereignty with modern tools — while quietly reshaping the strategic geometry of the Bay of Bengal.

As the countdown to 2027 begins, the world watches closely how Bangladesh’s “Vigorous Dragons” will breathe new fire into South Asia’s contested skies.

The J-10CE’s arrival will also redefine the Bangladesh Air Force’s operational doctrine, transitioning it from primarily air-defence oriented missions to a full-spectrum multirole capability encompassing precision strike, maritime interdiction, and deep penetration operations.

This acquisition may further prompt regional actors—particularly India and Myanmar—to accelerate their own fighter modernization programs, intensifying an aerial arms race in the Bay of Bengal theatre.

By integrating Chinese combat aircraft, radar networks, and missile systems, Bangladesh is effectively building interoperability with Beijing’s wider military-industrial ecosystem, potentially paving the way for future procurements such as AEW&C aircraft or long-range SAM systems.

Economically, the structured financing model over a decade allows Dhaka to modernize without jeopardizing fiscal stability, while leveraging Chinese credit facilities and potential offset arrangements for local maintenance and training.

Ultimately, the J-10CE deal symbolizes more than a procurement—it represents Bangladesh’s strategic declaration that it intends to emerge as a capable, self-reliant, and technologically empowered air power within the Indo-Pacific’s evolving balance of forces.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA