Bangladesh has taken another step toward acquiring the Chengdu J-10CE, with a government official confirming that a draft agreement for the Chinese fighter is being prepared before formal negotiations with Beijing.
Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to the Bangladeshi government, said the draft has been sent to the Armed Forces Division and relevant ministries for approval. The process also covers the proposed acquisition of attack helicopters.
No contract has yet been signed and the government has not officially announced the final number of fighters. However, documents previously reported by Bangladeshi media indicate that the Air Force plans to acquire 20 J-10CEs.
The latest estimates put the overall program at approximately US$2.3 billion. The figure goes well beyond the cost of the aircraft themselves, covering training, operational equipment, technical and logistical support, transportation, insurance, taxes and infrastructure.
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Earlier documentation reported in October 2025 estimated approximately US$1.2 billion for the fighters themselves and US$2.2 billion for the complete acquisition program, with payments spread over several fiscal years.
If completed, the purchase would make Bangladesh the second confirmed foreign operator of the J-10CE after Pakistan, unless another prospective customer receives the fighter first.
Pakistan remains China's only confirmed export customer for the type and operates the aircraft as the J-10C. The fighter attracted considerable international attention following the May 2025 confrontation between Pakistan and India, when Islamabad claimed that its J-10s had successfully engaged Indian aircraft.
Bangladesh government officials have themselves referred to the fighter's performance during the conflict when discussing the proposed purchase. Claims surrounding individual engagements and losses during the fighting, however, have remained disputed.
Replacing the F-7 fleet
The J-10CE would provide the Bangladesh Air Force with a substantial improvement over most of its current combat fleet.
Chinese-built F-7 variants account for the majority of its fighter force, supplemented by a much smaller number of Russian MiG-29s. The F-7 is a heavily developed Chinese derivative of the Soviet MiG-21 and belongs to a considerably older generation than the J-10.
Bangladesh has also examined Western alternatives. The country has shown interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon, including contacts with Italy concerning the European fighter, before the J-10CE acquisition process reached its current stage.
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China already has a long-established position as a military supplier to Bangladesh, reducing some of the logistical and training barriers associated with introducing another Chinese combat aircraft.
Possible competition for second export customer
Bangladesh is not the only country recently associated with a potential J-10CE acquisition.
Uzbekistan has increasingly been linked to the fighter, including images that appear to show an aircraft carrying markings associated with the Central Asian country. Reports have suggested a possible acquisition of as many as 24 aircraft, although no contract has been officially confirmed.
The Bangladesh case has now progressed further publicly. The government's acknowledgment of the draft agreement, combined with previously reported procurement documents identifying 20 aircraft and funding for the program, provides the clearest indication yet that Dhaka intends to proceed with the Chinese fighter.
