Bangladesh Bids for Beijing’s Birds of Battle
The Government of Bangladesh is seeking to purchase 12 fighter aircraft from China. Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus discussed the matter during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Two senior members of the Chief Adviser’s delegation in Beijing confirmed to the media the government’s interest in acquiring the fighter jets.
On March 26 this year, the Chief Adviser undertook a four-day visit to China. At that time, a press release from his Press Wing stated that the two leaders had discussed several issues, including Chinese support for the Teesta River project, the purchase of multiple role combat aircraft, and multimodal connectivity between Bangladesh’s ports and Kunming.
As part of ongoing modernization to prepare the armed forces for future challenges, the government has expressed interest in procuring Chinese-made J-10C aircraft for the Air Force.
During the Beijing meeting, the Chief Adviser raised the government’s plan for the modernization of the Bangladesh Air Force and conveyed interest in acquiring 12 J-10C fighter jets from China. The Chinese President responded positively to this proposal.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain confirmed, “The discussion on purchasing fighter jets took place during the Chief Adviser’s meeting with the Chinese President.”
Preliminary talks at the official level between Bangladesh and China regarding the J-10C acquisition had already begun before the visit. Following the Beijing meeting, the process toward implementation was further facilitated, and discussions between the two countries have continued since.
The Chinese-made J-10C, also known as the “Vigorous Dragon,” is a multirole combat aircraft (MRCA). A fourth-generation fighter, it possesses versatile operational capabilities. The J-10C can fly at supersonic speeds and is highly proficient in detecting enemy aircraft. It is capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes, with the ability to engage targets up to 200 kilometers away. Moreover, it can be integrated with other fighter jets and drones for coordinated missions. The aircraft is also designed to excel in technology, speed, surveillance, and stealth operations.
