Bangladesh plans to purchase 20 Chinese-made J-10CE multirole fighter jets for about $2.2 billion to modernize its air force and strengthen national defense, officials said.
The deal, expected to be finalized by fiscal years 2026–27, includes procurement, training, and maintenance, with payments spread over 10 years through fiscal 2035–36. An inter-ministerial committee led by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan will negotiate final terms with Chinese representatives and decide whether to proceed through a direct or government-to-government arrangement.
The J-10CE is the export version of China’s J-10C. It gained international attention after it downed Indian Rafales during the India-Pakistan clashes of May 2025. The aircraft has become symbolic of China’s advanced aviation industry and is frequently featured at global defense exhibitions.
Retired Maj. Gen. ANM Muniruzzaman urged the government to weigh geopolitical implications amid rising U.S.–China tensions.