Christchurch, New Zealand Announces Potential New Operator of J-10 Jets
In Christchurch, New Zealand, it has been noted that the Chinese-produced J-10 fighter jet is currently operated by the air forces of China and Pakistan. Soon, Bangladesh might join this list as the third country to deploy this advanced 4.5-generation aircraft.
Last month, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, the leading air force official in Bangladesh, revealed that the country’s interim government has provisionally agreed to acquire “multirole combat and attack aircraft,” in addition to new surface-to-air missiles and advanced long-range radar systems.
While Air Chief Marshal Khan did not disclose the specific model of aircraft to be acquired, indications suggest that the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) might opt for the J-10CE variant from China.
This possibility was previously hinted at during a meeting between Muhammad Yumus, Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser and leader of the caretaker government, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing back in March.
The Bangladeshi government has indicated that the BAF could potentially procure up to 20 J-10CE jets by the year 2027. However, this purchase is subject to final approval from an inter-ministerial committee chaired by Khan, which will also negotiate the terms with Chinese representatives.
The Chief Adviser’s office has estimated the cost of the aircraft at $1.2 billion, with additional expenses such as training and spare parts expected to bring the total investment to around $2.2 billion. The payment for these acquisitions is planned to be distributed over a period of ten years, extending into the mid-2030s.
Located between India and, to a lesser extent, Myanmar, Bangladesh is strategically compelled to safeguard its restricted airspace and to secure its coastal territories along the Bay of Bengal.
There is an urgent need for upgrading its air force capabilities as the current fleet, comprising primarily outdated and accident-prone Chinese F-7s as well as Russian MiG-29s, is becoming increasingly inadequate. Notably, one F-7 aircraft crashed into a college campus in Dhaka in July, resulting in 36 casualties.
Apart from the Chinese J-10, the BAF has also evaluated Western aircraft, including the Eurofighter Typhoon during demonstration flights in Italy attended by Khan and other air force officials in May.
Nevertheless, the Chinese aircraft might prevail due to Bangladesh’s existing use of Chinese military hardware, which includes recent acquisitions such as Type 15 light tanks and Type 035G submarines.
Despite potential geopolitical tensions, especially with Western nations like the United States, the acquisition of the J-10CE under Bangladesh’s Forces Goal 2030 modernization plan would position J-10s along the western, northern, and eastern borders of India.
The preference for the J-10 by Bangladesh was also influenced by the aircraft’s exposure during the intense aerial confrontation between India and Pakistan in May, where the J-10CEs were reported to have performed commendably against Indian aircraft.
Brendan Mulvaney, director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute associated with the U.S. Air Force, commented to Defense News that the J-10C is “a modern and fairly capable aircraft, the best one that China exports.” He further noted that the Indo-Pakistan conflict demonstrated the effectiveness of Chinese-made equipment, even those versions designated for export, highlighting their potential as significant future contenders not just within, but beyond the borders of China.
Overall, the integration of the J-10CE into the BAF, equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as active electronically scanned array radars, data links, and beyond-visual-range missiles like the PL-15E, would substantially enhance its operational capabilities.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
