Bangladesh said to be eyeing China’s J-10C fighters to upgrade ageing air force fleet

It would be the second of India’s neighbours to buy the Chinese jets, potentially inflaming Beijing-New Delhi tensions, analysts say

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China’s J-10C fighter, often compared to the US-made F-16, has been in service since 2018. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:00am, 19 Dec 2024

Bangladesh appears to be considering an upgrade of its ageing fighter jets, and China’s J-10C is reportedly an option. But observers note the 4.5-generation multirole fighter would be a costly addition to the country’s fleet and risk inflaming tensions between China and India.

The assessment came after Bangladesh Air Force Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan visited China last month and told reporters that his country was “devotedly trying to acquire multirole combat aircrafts and attack helicopters”, according to defence news website Indian Defence Research Wing.

The report also cited sources saying that the Bangladesh Air Force was considering purchasing 16 J-10CE fighters, the export variant of the J-10C, in the first phase of the upgrade.

During the visit, Khan attended the Zhuhai air show, China’s biggest showcase for defence and commercial aerial platforms.

The Bangladeshi air chief’s visit aimed to “further strengthen the existing cordial relations” and expand the scope of cooperation, according to Bangladesh’s military.

He also visited the headquarters of China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC), a state-owned defence company focused on aviation.