Bangladesh, China seal major defense deal for fighter jets
Dhaka moves to acquire J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” jets from China by 2027, signaling a major shift in Bangladesh’s defense modernization
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has finalized plans for a landmark defense agreement with China to acquire advanced J-10C fighter aircraft, a move that underscores Dhaka’s growing military partnership with Beijing and signals a new phase in the country’s air force modernization.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the deal will supply 20 of China’s fourth-generation multirole J-10C jets—known by the export name “Vigorous Dragon”—along with pilot training, maintenance, and long-term logistical support.
The aircraft, capable of supersonic speeds and precision strikes, are expected to be delivered by 2027 under a government-to-government arrangement.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, the agreement is valued at roughly $2.2 billion and will be financed over ten fiscal years. It comes amid Bangladesh’s broader effort to replace aging fleets and bolster deterrence capabilities in the Bay of Bengal region, where both China and India are vying for strategic influence.
The decision follows a series of high-level defense discussions during Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s visit to Beijing earlier this year, where China reportedly endorsed Bangladesh’s modernization ambitions. An inter-ministerial committee, led by Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, has since been tasked with negotiating technical specifications and delivery schedules.
Analysts view the J-10C acquisition as a turning point in Bangladesh’s defense posture, offering superior radar systems, beyond-visual-range missile capacity, and enhanced combat endurance.
“This will significantly expand Dhaka’s operational reach and shift its reliance from older Russian aircraft toward more diversified suppliers,” said ANM Muniruzzaman of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies.
The Bangladesh Air Force currently operates a limited number of MiG-29 and Chinese-made F-7 fighters—both decades old. The introduction of the J-10C will give Bangladesh its first true multirole fleet capable of matching regional peers in speed, range, and precision strike capability.
Beyond the military dimension, the agreement reinforces China’s footprint in South Asia’s defense market, where Beijing continues to consolidate partnerships through financing, infrastructure, and technology transfers.
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