Bangladesh eyes Chinese J-10CE fighters in $2.2bn modernisation drive — Asia-Pacific implications

Bangladesh Eyes China’s J-10 to Fast-Track Air-Force Modernisation

Mohd Hanif Ismail - : Oct 16, 2025 - : 3:54 pm

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Bangladesh is reportedly close to finalising a high-value procurement of Chinese Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighters as part of a broader effort to modernise the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Media reports suggest Dhaka is considering an order for about 20 J-10CE aircraft — a move that would mark one of the most significant defence acquisitions for the country in recent years and would replace ageing F-7-derived jets in the BAF’s inventory.

According to coverage in regional and defence press, the proposed package is valued at roughly USD 2.2 billion and would include training, spares and sustainment support, with deliveries expected across 2026–27 if the government-to-government negotiations progress on schedule. Observers say the deal is aimed at bolstering Bangladesh’s national air-defence capability and accelerating the Forces Goals 2030 modernisation plan.

The story — first reported by Anadolu Ajansı and subsequently picked up by defence outlets — has been cited by Dhaka-based media and defence commentators as the catalyst for fresh debate at home over procurement transparency, financing and strategic alignment.

Bangladesh’s interest in the J-10CE comes amid a notable regional shift: the aircraft recently featured in combat operations between Pakistan and India in May 2025, raising its profile among potential export customers and regional planners. For Dhaka, acquiring a 4.5-generation platform such as the J-10CE would offer a step-change in sensor, weapons and avionics capability compared with the legacy F-7 types that have formed the backbone of the BAF for decades. That legacy was brought into sharp focus earlier in 2025 when a Bangladesh F-7 crashed in Dhaka with tragic loss of life, prompting renewed calls for fleet modernisation.

Beyond capability, the proposed purchase carries important Asia-Pacific strategic implications. Defence analysts note that a Bangladesh acquisition of Chinese fighters would further deepen Dhaka-Beijing military ties at a time when China is actively expanding its diplomatic and security footprint across South Asia. The move is likely to draw attention in New Delhi and among other regional capitals concerned with balance-of-power dynamics, defence interoperability and the evolving pattern of Asian defence procurement.