DHAKA: Bangladesh has moved closer to acquiring Chinese-made J-10CE multirole fighter jets, with officials citing the aircraft’s reported combat performance during the Pakistan-India conflict as one of the factors behind the decision.
Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said the country had closely observed the performance of Chinese J-10 aircraft during the conflict, particularly reports involving Pakistan Air Force operations against Indian Rafale fighter jets.
According to reports, a draft proposal for the acquisition of J-10CE fighter jets has been submitted to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance and Armed Forces Division for approval. The wider proposed procurement package also includes attack helicopters, VIP transport helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicle systems.
The J-10CE is the export variant of China’s Chengdu J-10C, a 4.5-generation multirole combat aircraft already operated by the Pakistan Air Force. Bangladesh’s interest in the platform reflects its broader efforts to modernise the Bangladesh Air Force and strengthen its aerial combat capabilities.
While reports have linked Bangladesh’s decision to the J-10CE’s claimed performance against Indian aircraft during the 2025 Pakistan-India conflict, details of the final procurement—including aircraft numbers, cost and delivery schedule—remain subject to the approval and budget process.
The development could mark one of Bangladesh’s most significant defence acquisitions in recent years and further strengthen defence ties between Dhaka and Beijing.
