Bangladesh confirms deal to acquire Chinese J-10 fighter jets

Bangladesh has confirmed a deal to purchase China's 4.5-generation J-10CE fighter jets, a move reportedly influenced by the aircraft's performance against French-made Rafale jets during a recent Pakistan-India conflict. The South China Morning Post reported the confirmation on Friday.

The Chengdu J-10C is a single-engine, multirole combat aircraft manufactured in China. It boasts a top speed of Mach 1.8 and can be equipped with various air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. According to reports, it played a significant role in the initial hours of hostilities, successfully downing six Indian Air Force jets.

Zahedur Rahman, the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, stated that a draft proposal to acquire the jets was submitted to the country's finance ministry and Armed Forces Division for final approval. The Bangladesh Press Information Department (PID) confirmed this, adding that the proposal also covers the purchase of Chinese attack helicopters, VIP transport helicopters, and drones.

Rahman indicated that the procurement would proceed immediately, subject to budgetary allocations for the current fiscal year, or be deferred to the next budget cycle. He noted that Bangladesh paid close attention to the conflict last year, during which Pakistan utilized J-10 fighters and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles to counter Indian Rafales.

This development follows earlier discussions between Pakistani and Bangladeshi air chiefs regarding the potential procurement of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft, a Pakistan-China joint venture. Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan of the Bangladesh Air Force met with Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu in Islamabad to discuss enhancing operational cooperation, training, capacity building, and aerospace advancements. Khan also held separate meetings with Pakistani military leadership to explore avenues for strengthening defense cooperation.

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Subject to necessary budgetary allocation in the current fiscal year, this procurement will be executed immediately; otherwise, it will roll over into the next budget cycle.