The record investment as of 2026 marks Bangladesh's definitive transition to a 4.5‑generation air defence and cements strategic ties with China

The Government of Bangladesh has finalized preparations for a historic deal with China to acquire 20 Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighter aircraft in an agreement valued at an estimated $2.2 billion. The purchase, which represents the country’s largest investment in air power since independence, aims to radically modernize the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and replace its obsolete fleet of China-built F-7 fighters dating back to the Soviet era.

Deliveries of the fighter, known in the West by the nickname "Vigorous Dragon", are scheduled between 2026 and 2027. This massive procurement is part of Bangladesh’s military modernization plan, "Forces Goal 2030", which emphasizes strengthening air defense and maritime surveillance capabilities, particularly over the Bay of Bengal.

According to official documents reviewed in Dhaka, the total investment of about $2.2 billion (equal to approximately 27,060 crore Taka) will cover the purchase of the aircraft, pilot and technical personnel training, maintenance and associated infrastructure. Financing will be spread over ten fiscal years, extending through 2035–2036. The base cost per airframe is estimated at $60 million.

A technological leap and a geopolitical signal

Dacca’s decision follows months of technical assessments and economic and strategic considerations. The urgency to renew the fleet was underlined by recent incidents involving the aging F-7s, highlighting operational safety risks. The J-10CE, the export variant of the J-10C in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), is a 4.5-generation fighter that offers a significant qualitative leap.

Developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), the type is notable for its delta-canard configuration, the WS-10B turbofan engine and an advanced avionics suite that includes an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar. It can carry up to 5.6 tonnes of ordnance on 11 hardpoints and is compatible with the long-range PL-15 air-to-air missile, which has an estimated range in excess of 200 km, providing the BAF with next-generation beyond-visual-range (BVR) capability.

The deal continues the long-standing and deep defense cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and Bangladesh. Already a principal supplier to Dhaka of armaments including submarines and light tanks, Beijing offered competitive financing terms and delivery schedules that were decisive, especially given difficulties in sourcing Western alternatives (such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, previously evaluated) that were deemed too expensive or subject to restrictions.

To clarify the industrial dynamic, we note that the J-10CE is indeed produced by CAC, but the export supply and management of the contract are overseen by its parent state-owned company, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

The acquisition makes Bangladesh the second country in South Asia, after Pakistan, to field this fighter — a development that will have significant geopolitical implications in the region, particularly for its relationship with India, whose fleet of Rafale fighters could potentially face the same type across both borders. An inter-ministerial committee led by Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, is handling the final negotiations and drafting of the definitive government-to-government (G-to-G) contract with China. The office of the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus had previously confirmed that discussions on the purchase, held during his visit to Beijing in April, received a "positive" response from the Chinese side.

Below, in Haci Productions’ video, demonstration of the J-10: