Bangladesh to purchase 24 Chinese J-10CE fighter jets

Bangladesh is preparing to acquire 24 Chengdu J-10CE multirole fighter jets from China, a deal expected to be signed by August during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to Beijing. Each aircraft is valued at roughly $40 million, indicating a total investment of close to $1 billion and marking Bangladesh as the second foreign operator of the J-10CE after Pakistan.

The procurement is part of a broader push to modernise the Bangladesh Air Force, replacing aging F‑7 fighters, and comes alongside 16 additional agreements under a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Dhaka and Beijing. The deal deepens defence ties with China and carries regional implications, particularly for India, as it expands China’s military footprint in South Asia.