Chengdu J-10CE Fighters Under Testing Could Be Destined for Bangladesh

Images circulating on social media in recent days appear to show Chengdu J-10CE fighters in testing, pointing to the possible preparation of a new production batch for eventual export customers. However, no official statement has identified the intended recipient, and the prospective deal’s origin remains undisclosed.

The J-10CE is the export model of China’s single-engined multirole fighter and ranks among the leading defence products offered by Beijing on the international market. Pakistan remains the sole confirmed overseas operator of this version, having brought it into service with its Air Force as part of a wider combat-fleet modernisation effort.

Bangladesh and a potential J-10CE order

Reports in this context suggest China could be completing the details of a possible deal for 20 J-10CE fighters for the Bangladesh Air Force. If completed, the agreement would make Bangladesh the type’s second international customer. The operation is estimated to require an investment of USD 2.2 billion and would form part of the service’s ongoing modernisation programme.

The Bangladesh Air Force has roughly 44 combat aircraft in service, including 36 J-7 fighters. This Chinese-designed type is currently being converted by Beijing into an unmanned platform. Should an agreement be finalised, local reporting states that implementation would run across fiscal years 2026 and 2027. In addition to the aircraft, the package would cover staff training and maintenance support.

It is still unclear whether any prospective contract would take the form of a direct purchase or a government-to-government arrangement. Even so, reports have raised the possibility of distributing payments over ten fiscal years to lessen the burden on Bangladesh’s defence budget.

Eurofighter competition for Bangladesh Air Force requirements

The Bangladesh Air Force modernisation effort has also created an opportunity for Western rivals. A Letter of Intent (LOI) was recently signed to advance the Eurofighter Typhoon as the leading contender for a possible multirole fighter acquisition, reportedly pushing the Chinese J-10CE down the selection list.

The LOI was signed at Bangladesh Air Force headquarters in the presence of, among others, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro and Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Chief of Air Staff. Italy’s diplomatic involvement reflects Leonardo’s position as the company conducting negotiations for the Eurofighter consortium; it also owns a 21% share in the programme.

Earlier this year, Bangladesh Air Force delegations travelled to Leonardo’s Turin facilities to assess the European fighter’s production and operational capabilities. These visits suggest that, if this route proceeds, the aircraft could be assembled in Italy.

J-10CE operational record and the Pakistan-India clashes

Interest abroad in the J-10CE has also been shaped by its reported performance in an active conflict. During the recent Pakistan-India clashes, Pakistan Air Force J-10CE fighters and Chinese PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles were reportedly significant in aerial engagements.

Although the so-called “fog of war” remains, alongside intensive information campaigns from both sides, several sources reported that the Indian Air Force may have sustained at least five shoot-downs. Some of these losses have been linked to J-10CE aircraft equipped with PL-15 missiles. One of the episodes most often cited is the reported downing of up to three French-built Rafale fighters, though the precise causes of those aircraft losses have not been officially confirmed.

The role of the J-10CE/PL-15 pairing was first supported by the discovery of fragments from Chinese-manufactured missiles at several locations within Indian territory. Available reports indicate that the two countries’ air forces operated only inside their respective airspace, restricting the information available and leaving accounts fragmented and vulnerable to censorship.

While further photographs and reports continue to surface, the destination of the J-10CE batch now undergoing testing has yet to be confirmed. This comes as South Asia emerges as one of the key areas of interest for the Chinese fighter’s international expansion.

Cover image sourced from @Mohsin_o2.

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