Bangladesh advances plans to acquire up to 24 J-10CE fighters from China

Alongside attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicle systems, the Bangladesh Air Force is progressing with plans to procure up to 24 J-10CE fighters from China. According to several reports, a Bangladeshi government negotiating committee has already completed a draft contract to bring these combat aircraft into service. The process represents another step forward after months of consideration over the country’s future fighter aircraft.

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Bangladesh assessed the Eurofighter before selecting the J-10CE

The decision followed a selection process in which the J-10CE had initially ranked behind the Eurofighter. In December 2025, the Bangladesh Air Force signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) that placed the Eurofighter as the leading contender for a potential multirole fighter procurement. The agreement was signed at a meeting between Italy’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, and the then Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan. Leonardo led the talks on behalf of the Eurofighter consortium, while Bangladeshi officials visited its Turin facilities to assess the aircraft and its production capabilities.

However, the situation shifted in June 2026, when various media outlets reported that Chengdu’s J-10CE had moved into first place in the process. Reports stated that Dhaka was considering the purchase of up to 24 aircraft to strengthen its air defence and modernise its fighter fleet. It was also reported that negotiations could move forward during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s planned visit to China between 24 and 26 June. At the time, a Bangladeshi official stated: “We expect to sign the agreement to purchase the fighters by August this year.”

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J-10CE performance against the Rafale influenced the assessment

Recent reports state that a Bangladeshi government negotiating committee has now completed a contractual draft for the fighter acquisition. Bangladeshi outlet Daily Sabah also reported that documentation concerning the J-10CE and the attack helicopters had been prepared and sent to the relevant authorities for approval. Nevertheless, the available information does not indicate that China has officially confirmed the final signing of the contract.

Zahed Ur Rahman, Bangladesh’s prime ministerial adviser on Information and Broadcasting, highlighted the experience gained by the J-10CE during the 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan. According to The Daily Star, Rahman said that the Chengdu J-10 performed well against the Rafale, developed by French company Dassault Aviation. “Bangladesh took note of that,” the official said. He also pointed to the lower cost of the Chinese aircraft compared with comparable Western fighters. “If we are talking about aircraft of similar quality, whether Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon, Chinese variants are comparatively much cheaper than European fighters,” he said.

Price and integration with Chinese systems are further factors

Chinese military experts have also identified further considerations that may explain Bangladesh’s interest in the J-10CE. Fu Qianshao said the aircraft features advanced avionics and radar, as well as the ability to conduct beyond-visual-range attacks. The fighter is commonly offered with PL-15E long-range air-to-air missiles, enabling the aircraft to be integrated into a broader suite of sensors and weapons.

Zhang Junshe, another Chinese military expert, identified three main reasons behind Bangladeshi interest: cost, combat performance, and compatibility with systems already in Bangladeshi service. The Asian country has operated Chinese-origin equipment for years and has logistics structures, training systems and command networks tailored to those platforms. As a result, the J-10CE could be incorporated more readily into its Chinese-origin air defence, early-warning and command systems.

Interest in the J-10CE has also spread to other countries in recent years. Reports suggested that Uzbekistan could acquire up to 24 aircraft, although neither that country nor China officially confirmed the agreement. Algeria was also reported to have considered acquiring 40 J-10s and between four and five Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early-warning and control aircraft, while Indonesia expressed its intention in October 2025 to purchase J-10 fighters from China. In none of these cases, according to the cited reports, have the transactions received full official confirmation.

For Bangladesh, a possible contract would mark a departure from the preference expressed for the Eurofighter in December 2025. The process is now focused on the J-10CE and could involve up to 24 aircraft, although completion of the deal still depends on the necessary approvals. If confirmed, the acquisition would provide the Bangladesh Air Force with a Chinese-built platform offering beyond-visual-range combat capabilities and direct integration with systems and weapons of the same origin.

Images for illustrative purposes.