Bangladesh to buy 20 Chinese J-10 CE fighter jets

According to official documents reviewed by The Business Standard (TBS), the total cost of the deal, including training, equipment, freight, insurance, and infrastructure, is estimated at USD 2.2 billion (approximately Tk 27,060 crore). 

The purchase and implementation process is expected to take place during the 2025–26 and 2026–27 fiscal years, either through direct purchase or a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with China. Payments will be made over a 10-year period until the 2035–36 fiscal year.

Each aircraft is estimated to cost USD 60 million, bringing the total for 20 jets to USD 1.2 billion. Additional expenses for local and overseas training, equipment procurement, and transportation will amount to around USD 820 million, while insurance, VAT, agency commissions, and civil works will push the total expenditure to USD 2.2 billion.

The J-10CE is the export version of China’s J-10C, a 4.5-generation multirole combat aircraft currently used by the Chinese Air Force. The model gained international attention after Pakistan reportedly used it during a skirmish with India in May, claiming to have downed several Rafale fighter jets—though the claim remains unverified.

Discussions on purchasing multirole combat aircraft from China were held during Prime Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus’s visit to Beijing in March, with Chinese authorities reportedly expressing a positive stance. To negotiate and finalize the agreement, the government formed an 11-member inter-ministerial committee in April, chaired by the Air Force chief and comprising representatives from the Prime Adviser’s Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Finance Division, the Economic Relations Division, and the Law Ministry.

The committee will review the draft contract, assess the viability of procuring the aircraft through the G2G process, and negotiate final pricing, payment terms, and other technical and logistical details with Chinese counterparts.

Military experts have urged the government to proceed cautiously. Major General (Retd) ANM Muniruzzaman, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS), said the Air Force has long required new fighter jets but warned of potential geopolitical implications. “Before making a purchase, Bangladesh must assess the geopolitical consequences, especially amid current tensions between the United States and China,” he told TBS.

The J-10 series holds significant importance in China’s aviation modernization. The aircraft, first used by the Bayi Aerobatic Team in 2009, was upgraded in 2023 to the advanced J-10C variant, which features enhanced avionics, radar systems, and long-range capabilities comparable to Western 4.5-generation fighters.