Bangladesh confirms deal to buy Chinese J-10 fighter jets: report

Bangladesh confirms accord to purchase Chinese J-10 fighter jets: report.

Key points

• News Desk Published August 29, 2026 Updated August 29, 2026 07: 17pm.
• In January this year, Pakistan and Bangladesh's air chiefs held detailed discussions on the "potential procurement" of the locally-produced JF-17 Thunder aircraft, according to Inter-Services Public Relations.
• When Pakistan employed J-10 fighters and PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles to shoot down Indian Rafales, SCMP reports that Rahman remarked Bangladesh "paid attention" to the war last year.
• The Chengdu J-10C is a single-engine, multirole combat aircraft manufactured in China.
• According to the Bangladesh PID, the draft proposal additionally includes the purchase of Chinese attack helicopters, VIP transport helicopters and drones.

News Desk Published August 29, 2026 Updated August 29, 2026 07: 17pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Bangladesh has confirmed a accord to purchase China's 4.5-generation J-10CE fighter jets, citing the aircraft's noted combat performance against French-made Rafale jets during the brief Pakistan-India conflict in May, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) documented on Friday.

For context, the Chengdu J-10C is a single-engine, multirole combat aircraft manufactured in China. Boasting a top speed of Mach 1.8, it can be fitted with a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. It was central on the first night of hostilities, shooting down six jets belonging to the Indian Air Force.

Meanwhile, the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Zahedur Rahman remarked earlier this week that a draft proposal to purchase the jets had been submitted to the country's finance ministry and Armed Forces Division for final approval, SCMP documented citing the Bangladeshi Press Information Department (PID).

"Subject to necessary budgetary allocation in the current fiscal year, this procurement will be executed immediately; otherwise, it will roll over into the next budget cycle, " it continued.

It continued that Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan called on Pakistan Air Force Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu in Islamabad, where "The meeting focused on strengthening operational cooperation and institutional synergy, with emphasis on training, capacity building, and collaboration in aerospace advancements."

For context, a day afterwards, Dhaka's air chief discussed avenues for enhancing defence cooperation with Pakistan in separate meetings with Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

Notably, a year ago, Pakistan was engaged in a military conflict with India, dealing the boastful neighbour an internationally recognised "clear setback".

Meanwhile, the conflict with India, starting from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the end of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, with a ceasefire ending a military escalation between the two countries on May 10, has been called "Marka-I-Haq" (Battle of Truth) by the state.

But from the night of May 6 to May 10, the drums of war were echoing loudly throughout South Asia as the nuclear-armed arch-rivals exchanged missiles, raising global alarm over the risk of unpredictable escalation.

In short, bangladesh confirms deal to buy Chinese J is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.